The athletic club qualified comfortably and without suffering for the second round of the Copa del Rey by prevailing over 0-2 to Alzira at the Luis Suñer Picó with goals from Alex Berenguer Y Nick Williamsboth in the first half.
Ernesto Valverde opted for a fairly recognizable starting line-up by having a good number of regular starters in order to avoid any surprises against Alzira, who took the match as a historic event. With this staging, Villalibre was about to score the first goal in the 5th minute with a shot that forced goalkeeper Lluís Andreu to intervene successfully. Athletic kept looking for the goal and found it in the 16th minute through Berenguer, taking advantage of a good assist from Villalibre.
The Basque team was able to do the second when Nico Williams did not take advantage of an error by the local goalkeeper. However, the rojiblanco international did not forgive shortly before the break to make it 0-2 with which the first half ended.
In the second half, Alzira did not lower their arms despite the advantage of the Bilbao side and Agirrezabala had to work hard on several occasions preventing the Valencian team from getting into the tie with a goal. Despite playing with fire for too many minutes in the second half, Athletic secured their classification by handling the match without stress in its final stretch.
Data sheet
0 – Alzira: Lluís Andreu, Abraham Peleteiro, Fer Cortijo, Kaiser, Javier Soler, Solbes (Lado, min. 80), Álvaro Gómez, Jordi Marenyà (David Marzá, min. 89), Pitu (Sergio González, min. 80), Javi Serra (Javi Zarzo, min. 59) and Beceiro (Ramón, min. 59).
2 – Athletic Club: Agirrezabala, De Marcos (Lekue, min. 70), Vivian, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri, Ander Herrera (Winner, min. 70), Vesga, Nico Williams (Iñaki Williams, min. 65), Raúl García, Álex Berenguer and Villalibre (Guruzeta, min. 78). ,Goals: 0-1, m.16: Berenguer. 0-2, m. 43: Nico Williams.
Referee: Fernandez stable. He showed a yellow card to Yurti Berchiche of Athletic Club.
Source: Eitb
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