Osasuna qualified for the Copa del Rey final after a draw against Athletic Bilbao in the second leg.
Eighteen years later, Osasuna is back. The Navarrese qualified for the second Copa del Rey final in their history with a 1-1 extra-time draw against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday after winning the semi-final first leg 1-0 at home.
Bilbao, coached by Ernesto Valverde, however, opened the scoring half an hour into the game with a rebound from the left of Inaki Williams after a deflection of Mikel Vesga’s header from a corner (33rd), but the Navarrese equalized in the 116th , thanks to a superb volley from the flat of the right foot signed Pablo Ibanez, at the end of the suspense.
The scenario could not be different for Osasuna, who had already eliminated Nastic de Tarragona, Betis Sevilla then Sevilla FC each time after extra time respectively in the sixteenth, eighth and quarter-finals.
It will thus be the second final in the history of the Navarrese club, eighteen years after that lost against Betis Sevilla in 2005 (2-1 after extra time).
He will find there FC Barcelona or Real Madrid, who face each other on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) at Camp Nou for a place in the final, a month after Barça’s 1-0 victory at the Bernabéu in the first leg.
In a boiling atmosphere, the kick-off of the match had to be delayed by ten minutes because of the delay of the visitors, blocked near the San Mamés stadium, whose steps were crowded with supporters.
Ernesto Valverde’s men had plenty of chances to seal the game but were either unlucky or awkward. In the 40th, Inaki Williams thought he had scored twice on a deep recovery from a cross from his brother Nico, but his goal was canceled for offside.
In the 70th, it was again he who started the counterattack and served his brother Nico Williams, but the latter missed the frame from the left. Ditto in the 87th, when his recovery fled the frame after a good save from Sergio Herrera in front of Raul Garcia.
The Osasuna goalkeeper was also decisive throughout the game, again deflecting in extra time (96th) a header from Mikel Vesga. Before Pablo Ibanez, trained in Osasuna, finally delivers his own.