Ernesto Valverde warned that “nothing is decided yet” in Athletic Club’s Copa del Rey semi-final in opposition to Real Sociedad.
La Real maintain the benefit heading into the second leg at Estadio Municipal de Anoela on Wednesday, having received 1-0 within the first on February 11.
Benat Turrientes scored the objective in that tie, with Athletic struggling to create too many possibilities in entrance of objective, solely having three pictures on the right track.
The hosts are anticipated to triumph once more with a 44.9% win likelihood within the second leg, in comparison with Athletic’s 28.2%.
But even with the percentages seemingly in opposition to his crew, Valverde was fast to spotlight that it was solely a slender deficit they wanted to overturn.
“[Since the first leg], we’ve recovered players, we’ve been picking up points, and we’re in good shape,” Valverde stated.
“The scoreline is not an extended shot, and nothing is set but.
“[It’s] a chance to play a last, and every crew should discover its strengths.
“We’ll try to play our game to achieve our best performance. If we concede a goal, we have to score two to tie; I don’t think they’ll play defensively, they’ll come out to win. I don’t expect a tight game at all.”
La Real have now received two of their final three matches in opposition to Athletic in all competitions (D1), as many wins as of their earlier 9 derbies in opposition to the Rojiblancos (D3 L4).
Pellegrino Matarazzo has solely been answerable for La Real since 20 December 2025 and is now only one sport away from main the crew to the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Since he took over, he boasts a 58.3% win fee in all competitions, successful seven of his 12 video games up to now (D4 L1), however he’s not getting forward of himself simply but.
“Just over two months after arriving, a final? We’re not there yet; we have a game to play,” he stated on Tuesday.
“I’ll answer that question tomorrow. I always say the same thing: take it one step at a time, day by day, game by game. I won’t think about where we’re going until I’m in the tunnel.”
Matarazzo additionally confirmed Unai Marrero will probably be beginning in objective, sporting a masks after struggling a facial harm, with Orri Oskarsson additionally included within the squad after recovering from his personal concern.
