Atletico Madrid edged out Sevilla 1-0 on Thursday night to secure their spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, with Dutch forward Memphis Depay emerging as the unlikely hero.
FT: Atlético Madrid 1-0 Sevilla.
Atlético Madrid reach the Semi-Final of the Copa del Rey 🏆.#CopaDelRey #AtletiSevilla pic.twitter.com/9910mQQxfE
— Match Spoots (@matchspoots) January 25, 2024
Despite dominating the first half, Atletico struggled to find the breakthrough. Antoine Griezmann missed a golden opportunity from the penalty spot, slipping as he stepped up to take the kick. The Frenchman’s woes continued in the second half, having a goal chalked off for offside before Atletico saw another Depay effort ruled out following a swift counter-attack.
Just as the game seemed destined for extra time, Depay finally delivered in the 79th minute. Angel Correa’s perfectly weighted through ball squirmed through the legs of veteran defender Sergio Ramos, allowing the Dutch forward to tuck the ball past the onrushing Sevilla goalkeeper.
Atletico’s victory sends them into the semi-finals alongside Athletic Bilbao, who produced a stunning 4-2 upset over Barcelona. Elsewhere, Mallorca ousted LaLiga leaders Girona 3-2, while Real Sociedad edged past Celta Vigo 2-1.
The Copa del Rey semi-final draw will take place on Friday, January 26th, with Atletico Madrid hoping to avoid the likes of Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, who have both shown impressive cup form this season.