Athletic Club reached the quarterfinals of Spain’s Copa del Rey on Tuesday, Jan. 13, after a tense 120-minute contest against second-division side Cultural Leonesa in Madrid. The 2024 Cup winners were tested early, conceding multiple goals and playing an hour with 10 men following Aitor Paredes’ red card in the 56th minute.

The game was high-paced from the start, with Cultural taking the lead through Ivan Calero’s smart finish before Gorka Guruzeta equalized for Athletic with a curling strike from outside the penalty area. Goals continued to flow, as both sides traded penalties and counter-attacks, leaving the score 3-3 at halftime.

Drama and red cards define the match

Athletic faced extra challenges when Paredes was sent off for dissent, leaving the team a man down for the remainder of regulation. Cultural pushed forward but failed to convert opportunities, including a disallowed Yayo Gonzalez goal for offside in extra time.

The deadlock was finally broken when Unai Gomez converted a penalty after Gonzalez fouled Nico Williams in the box, giving Athletic the 4-3 victory. The win ensured the 2024 Copa del Rey champions advanced, despite the game’s back-and-forth nature and the temporary disadvantage of being a player down.

The result also highlighted the resilience of Athletic’s squad, with Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet contributing decisive plays, while Cultural Leonesa showed why second-division teams can challenge top-flight clubs in knockout tournaments.

Other quarterfinal qualifiers

Atletico Madrid also booked a place in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna, courtesy of Antoine Griezmann’s decisive strike in the 60th minute. Meanwhile, Osasuna and Real Sociedad clashed in the day’s only all-La Liga tie, producing another dramatic encounter.

Osasuna raced to a 2-0 lead with a stunning goal from Jon Moncayola and a Mikel Oyarzabal own goal. Real Sociedad fought back with Benat Turientes’ strike and an Igor Zubeldia equalizer in injury time, forcing a penalty shootout. Unai Marrero, Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper, then became the hero with two crucial saves, sending his side through to the quarterfinals.

These results set the stage for a compelling quarterfinal round, with top-flight teams facing both familiar and unexpected challenges as the Copa del Rey progresses. [Xinhua]