Bilbao ends Atletico 28-match unbeaten streak at home

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MADRID, Feb 8, (AP): Athletic Bilbao ended Atletico Madrid’s 28-match unbeaten streak at home with a 1-0 win in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Álex Berenguer converted a first-half penalty kick to give Athletic the tight victory at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Atletico hadn’t lost at the Metropolitano since a 1-0 defeat against Barcelona in January last year in the Spanish league. Diego Simeone’s team had only two draws since then, both against Getafe in the Spanish league.
“It’s always tough to win in this stadium, they are always pressing forward and putting you on the defensive,” Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde said. “It was a typical Copa match and we came through in the end.”

Atletico thought it had a chance for a late equalizer when the referee called a penalty kick on Álvaro Morata in stoppage time, but video review determined that the Atletico striker was offside and reversed the call.
The hosts had almost evened the match in the 85th when Ángel Correa’s shot was blocked by Athletic defender Íñigo Lekue at the goal line.
Berenguer scored the winner by converting a 25th-minute penalty after a hard sliding tackle by Atletico defender Reinildo on Athletic midfielder Beñat Prados.

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