MATCH REPORT | 1-1 draw at San Mamés in semifinal first leg

Valencia CF drew 1-1 with Athletic Club away from home in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg at San Mamés, as the team came back from behind to level in the second period.

The game saw a high tempo right from the off. The first half was hotly contested and saw a dangerous chance following a great Carlos Soler recovery, which buoyed Valencia CF just five minutes into the game.

Moments later, Bryan Gil threaded a fine ball through to José Luis Gayà, whose  cross from the left-hand side was nodded over the crossbar by Hugo Duro.

Bryan Gil was one of Valencia CF's main attacking outlets, as well as aiding in defence, contesting second balls and being very active and energetic in all departments. He continues to impress since joining the club on loan in the winter transfer market, and was highly active in the opening stanza.

Unfortunately for Valencia CF, Athletic Club's Raúl García made it 1-0 just past the half-hour mark.

The first half finished 1-0 to the home side, and Valencia CF would also find themselves without an option from the bench, as substitute Maxi Gómez was sent off by the referee when departing down the tunnel.

Despite this, a solid, competitive Valencia CF would find a way back into the contest. In the 65th minute, Hugo Duro leveled off a loose ball in the six-yard-box, tapping the ball into the net.

Duro could have made it 1-2 minutes later, shooting wide, and had a huge call for a penalty waved off by the referee when he went down in the box. It was a controversial moment in the game, and one that denied the visitors a great chance to take the lead.

In the end, the fixture concluded in a 1-1 draw, with the tie to be decided at Mestalla on March 2nd in the second leg.

MATCH STATS

ATHLETIC CLUB 1-1 VALENCIA CF

ATHLETIC CLUB: Agirrezabala, Lekue, Yeray (Daniel Vivian, 46’), Iñigo Martínez, Yuri, Dani García (Villalibre, 78’), Vesga, Berenguer, Muniain, Raúl García (Sancet, 67’) and Iñaki Williams (Zarraga, 78’).

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Correa, Alderete, Diakhaby, Gayà (Lato, 84’), Ilaix Moriba (Racic, 94’), Carlos Soler, Foulquier, Bryan Gil (Hélder Costa, 84’), Hugo Duro (Marcos André, 94’) and Guedes (Yunus Musah, 75’).

GOALS: 1-0 Raúl García, 37’; 1-1 Hugo Duro, 65’.

REFEREE: Munuera Montero (C. Andaluz). Yellow cards for Foulquier, Dani García, Diakhaby and Hugo Duro. Red card for Maxi Gómez at halftime.