Iker Muniain: Last News

Nabil Fekir went from showboating to being sent off inside 10 crazy seconds during Sunday’s La Liga clash between Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao.

Iker Muniain narra con elegancia la derrota en Mestalla, un varapalo del que hay que reponerse porque la Liga sigue viva para un Athletic que ha respondido en Copa: «Hemos estado intensos, hemos provocado ocasiones, pero no hemos tenido la fortuna de poder estar finos en los últimos metros sobre todo en la primera mitad; el golazo de ellos ha decantado la eliminatoria», señala el capitán rojiblanco.

Athletic y Valencia se enfrentan en la vuelta de las semifinales de la Copa del Rey, tras empatar a uno en San Mamés. A partir de las 21:30, retransmitido por Telecinco, ambos equipos aspiran al sueño de llegar a una final y optar al ansiado trofeo, que les garantizaría plaza de Europa League para la próxima temporada. Los leones quieren resarcirse tras caer derrotados en las últimas dos finales coperas. Los de Bordalás, por su parte, ven en el horizonte un salvoconducto a una temporada algo irregular. .

It’s safe to say Lionel Messi is one of the greatest playmakers in history.

Hugo Duro came to the rescue as Valencia fought back to earn a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Thursday. Duro's finish in the second half at San Mames leaves the tie firmly in the balance, with Valencia playing the second leg at home at Mestalla on March 2. Athletic's Raul Garcia had given them the lead shortly before half-time but the 23-time winners of the Spanish Cup were unable to hold on for the victory. The winner of the tie will play either Rayo Vallecano or Real Betis in the final in April. Betis defeated Rayo 2-1 at Vallecas in the first leg on Wednesday night. Athletic knocked out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and to win the cup this season would be particularly special, after they lost two finals in two weeks last year.

Trying to make their third straight Copa del Rey final, Athletic Bilbao were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Valencia in the first leg of the semi-finals.

Duro's finish in the second half at San Mames leaves the tie firmly in the balance, with Valencia playing the second leg at home at Mestalla on March 2. Athletic's Raul Garcia had given them the lead shortly before half-time but the 23-time winners of the Spanish Cup were unable to hold on for the victory. The winner of the tie will play either Rayo Vallecano or Real Betis in the final in April. Betis defeated Rayo 2-1 at Vallecas in the first leg on Wednesday night. Athletic knocked out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and to win the cup this season would be particularly special, after they lost two finals in two weeks last year. The first defeat was by Basque rivals Real Sociedad in a postponed final from 2020 before they lost again to Barcelona in the 2021 competition a fortnight later. Athletic are the most successful Copa del Rey club left in the tournament given only Barcelona can better their 23 cup victories. But of the four semi-finalists, Valencia have won it most recently after they beat Barca in 2019, under Marcelino, who is now in charge of Athletic. The home side took the lead in the 37th minute when Garcia held off former Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba at the back post to head in Iker Muniain's bending cross. Valencia's substitute Maxi Gomez was sent off at half-time as a feisty 45 minutes ended with a confrontation between players from both teams. Gomez had yet to play in the game but will now be unavailable for the second leg. There was little between the sides after the restart and Valencia grabbed an equaliser just after the hour-mark as Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala did well to parry Bryan Gil's finish but the ball fell straight to Duro, who bundled in.

Indiscutible en el terreno de juego y envuelto en un debate sobre su renovación que en realidad no lo es tal, visita Diego López este lunes a un Athletic Club que seguro le despierta una sonrisa por dos motivos. El primero, es que en el viejo San Mamés debutó como profesional, el 3 de enero de 2006 en la portería del Real Madrid (0-1, gol de David Beckham). El segundo, y más reciente, es que frente a los leones completó esta misma temporada una exhibición a la altura de muy pocas en su vasta carrera, como él mismo reconoció.