Atlético Madrid v Athletic Club Live Commentary & Result, 13/01/2022, Super Cup

For Atletico then, they are straight back into cup competition when they face Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey next week. But for Athletic, Madrid awaits in the Supercopa de Espana Final. Until then, thank you for joining us - and have a great week!

But for Marcelino, it's a fourth final since he took charge of the club in January last year. Two Copa del Rey defeats have not hurt his side's hopes though - and they will have a shot to add to their trophy cabinet against a rampant Real Madrid shortly. They'll relish the challenge.

A shake of the hand from Diego Simeone and the Argentine turns away, stony-faced, His side were on top and seized a smart lead, but always looked like they should have delivered more than they did. They've paid the price for their efforts - they'll head home empty-handed.

A pair of late finishes for Yeray Alvarez and Nico Williams inside five minutes ensures a remarkable comeback victory for Athletic Bilbao against Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana semi-final! The underdogs will mount a defence of their crown after they fought back from Unai Simon's own goal. Delight and despair at the King Fahd International Stadium - at full-time, it finishes Atletico Madrid 1-2 Athletic Bilbao.

90' + 5' FULL-TIME: ATLETICO MADRID 1-2 ATHLETIC BILBAO

J. Giménez

Red Card

90' + 4' Gimenez lunges with the foot for a delivery into the Athletic box and promptly puts his boot into the side of Martinez's head. He gets a yellow card, but VAR insists on a second look - and it's going to be a red!

90' + 3' Atletico are pressing down the wide flanks. This will be the last chance saloon for them...

Š. Vrsaljko

Yellow Card

90' + 1' Vrsaljko promptly gets booked down the other end for a rotten foul of his own. Bodies are flying all over the shop whenever someone gets the ball.

Williams

Yellow Card

90' + 1' Williams is the next man to get booked, as he lunges with a foul in the opposition half, attempting to slow play down.

Mikel Vesga

Yellow Card

90' Vesga is flashed a yellow card now as tempers start to get the better of both sides. The nerves are fraying.

89' The board is about to go up but there's going to be three added minutes in this one. Can Athletic Bilbao hold on against the champions of Spain to defy the odds in this one?

87' Is this the end of the hope for silverware this season for Atletico Madrid? They have underwhelmed this term, undoubtedly, despite their issues. But this will be a bitter blow, if they head home early.

Matheus Cunha

T. Lemar

85' Matheus Cunha replaces Thomas Lemar in Atletico Madrid's fifth change of the game.

H. Herrera

Koke

84' Hector Herrera replaces Koke in Atletico Madrid's fourth change of the game.

Íñigo Martínez

Yellow Card

83' Isn't it funny just how the wind changes? What a remarkable comeback for Athletic Bilbao this has been! Inigo Martinez meanwhile picks up a booking as the game restarts after he brings down Carrasco and Hermoso sees his subsequent attempt to level again blocked.

Dani García

Assist

81' Two corners, two goals for Athletic Bilbao! Garcia gets the assist amid that cluttered deflection however. Diego Simeone, on the sidelines, looks stunned.

Nico Williams

Goal

81' GOAL! NICO WILLIAMS HANDS ATHLETIC BILBAO A DRAMATIC LEAD! 2-1! It's one of the turnarounds of the season!Another corner is sailed in, and the ball crashes off a clutch of players before it falls to the replacement. He lines up a volley and drives home , nailing his strike at the left post!

79' What a final act is in store here! The right to face Real Madrid is on the line and Atletico will be kicking themselves that they didn't pull away earlier. Now we have a nail-biter in store.

Muniain

Assist

77' Iker Muniain lands that delivery to perfection there. Athletic Bilbao are firmly back in the hunt here now.

Yeray

Goal

77' GOAL! YERAY ALVAREZ LEVELS FOR ATHLETIC BILBAO! 1-1! It's more than a lifeline for the holders! They earn a corner, swing it in and the centre-back heads a powerful header beyond Oblak to square things up with less than a quarter-hour on the clock.

Yuri

Balenziaga

75' Yuri Berchiche replaces Mikel Balenziaga in Athletic Bilbao's fourth change of the game.

L. Suárez

Á. Correa

71' Luis Suarez replaces Angel Correa in Atletico Madrid's third change of the game.

Nico Williams

Álex Berenguer

70' Nico Williams replaces Alex Berenguer in Athletic Bilbao's third change of the game.

Mikel Vesga

Oier Zarraga

70' Mikel Vesga replaces Oier Zarraga in Athletic Bilbao's second change of the game.

Raúl García

Oihan Sancet

70' Raul Garcia replaces Oihan Sancet in Athletic Bilbao's first change of the game.

66' Athletic Bilbao have no choice now - they must chase this match in order to have a chance of making the Supercopa final. Their defence of their crown looks poised to come up short, unless they find a response.

64' Oblak to the rescue! A heart-in-mouth moment for Atletico just after they seize the lead, with the goalkeeper parrying a header off his line with a nervy touch. Simeone's men looked at sea in defence there.

Unai Simón

Own Goal

62' GOAL! UNAI SIMON KNOCKS THE BALL INTO HIS OWN NET TO GIFT ATLETICO MADRID TH LEAD! 1-0! The Rojiblancos swing a corner in, and Joao Felix plants a low header across the box towards the left post. The goalkeeper gets down, knocks it into th woodwork and the ball deflects off his back, into the net.

60' With half-an-hour on the clock, this remains anybody's game. Will we get a goal before it's all over, or are we destined for a stand-off?

57' Correa now has a crack at goal and sees his shot blocked too. Athletic are continuing to keep him at bay here.

55' Back-to-back opportunities at both ends! Carrasco and Williams both see chances blocked, to keep the game on an even keel. This on could go down to the wire.

53' De Paul concedes a corner and Bilbao look to push hard. Their fortune is limited though and Atletico spirits it away.

R. De Paul

G. Kondogbia

51' Rodrigo de Paul replaces Geoffrey Kondogbia in Atletico Madrid's second change of the game.

49' Here's a concern for Atletico that could prove damaging in the long run. Kondogbia looks to be struggling with a knock and he's going to have to beat an early retreat.

47' Lemar sees an early attempt blocked, and Athletic Bilbao soar down the other end on the counter. It's a lively start to this contest!

46' We are back underway in the second half of this Supercopa de Espana clash. Just who can find a winner before it gets to the final whistle?

Renan Lodi

Marcos Llorente

46' Renan Lodi replaces Marcos Llorente in Atletico Madrid's first change of the game, before we get back underway.

With four shots against two, Atletico dominated in front of goal in the first half - but it would be hard to say that they have been miles in front. There is hopefully lots to come in this one.

There's no goals to split two of the best in La Liga in this Supercopa de Espana semi-final - but there's plenty of time for twists to come. At the interval, it's Atletico Madrid 0-0 Athletic Bilbao.

45' HALF-TIME: ATLETICO MADRID 0-0 ATHLETIC BILBAO

44' We're mere seconds away from the break. Is there a late twist in this first half?

42' Atletico are forced to weather some heavy pressure around their box, with the Rojiblancos ultimately edging out their opponents after a long throw gone awry.

40' Kondogbia lets fly with a right-footer from outside the box - the first for a while - and Simon proves more than up to the task to meet it.

38' It's been more evenly matched than anticipated so far, perhaps - Atletico have only had one shot more than Athletic Bilbao. Could this be a clash set for a penalty shootout?

36' This has been a curious match-up. Diego Simeone is typically explosive on the sidelines but his side should perhaps be turning the screw a little more.

34' De Marcos comes clattering in on Lemar and the Atletico man will happily take the set-piece that arrives from it too.

32' Sancet comes in on Kondogbia now and the latter wins a free-kick.

30' With half-an-hour gone, Atletico haven't quite built themselves the advantage they might have hoped for. But this is still a game there for the taking and if they can build a little more weight, they'll come up trumps.

28' What on earth is Garcia doing there! A lovely square ball meets him and he completely stuffs the opportunity, putting it into orbit behind the goal.

26' Felix strays offside in pursuit of a ball from Kondogbia now and the flag flies up to curtail their move.

25' A looping long ball falls straight down Simon's throat despite Felix lurking near the edges of his six-yard area. The goalkeeper can make catches like that all day.

23' Llorente comes to ground awkwardly in the wake of a challenge, perhaps chasing a free-kick, but he gets nothing from the referee.

21' Carrasco lashes a superbly long range effort in that raises the temperature. The save is easy for Simon, but even so, it serves as a suitable warning shot.

19' Garcia now gets too close to Carrasco and concedes the foul. This is turning into an intriguing power struggle between the two sides.

17' Kondogbia now catches Sancet and Bilbao will have another free-kick.

15' Correa trims Martinez and concedes a relatively lazy free-kick. On the edge of the pitch, Simeone pulls a face.

13' This is better from Athletic Bilbao, who have weathered the early pressure to give the suggestion that they can keep themselves in this contest.

11' Athletic howl for a penalty shout now but are waved away by referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez. Atletico look a little sweaty, a little nervous after that burst of pressure on their lines.

10' Stop from Oblak! On the counter, Athletic Bilbao suddenly break Atletico's defence with a handy deflection, but Williams sees his close strike parried by the goalkeeper.

7' Having seen a shot blocked already, Correa attempts to press further pressure around the box, to limited success. Diego Simeone gesticulates in the technical area.

5' Athletic Bilbao look to strike out but it is their opponents who are looking far sharper so far. This could end up being a one-sided tie if they convert their skill around the park.

3' It's early pressure from Atletico - and Joao Felix looks to open proceedings almost immediately, firing a right-footed effort in the box off-target.

1' We are underway in this Supercopa de Espana semi-final clash between Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao!

The teams have emerged and we are moments away from kick-off.

Athletic are looking to become back-to-back victors in this competition. They are already three-time holders - having claimed it in 1984, 2015 and 2020–21.

Having been scuppered by Covid-19 last term, the Supercopa has returned to Riyadh this season, of course. The last time it was staged here, Atletico made the final after beating Barcelona - only to lose on penalties against Real Madrid.

Subs: Julen Agirrezabala, Peru Nolaskoain, Inigo Lekue, Alex Petxarroman Eizagirre, Raul Garcia, Mikel Vesga, Nicolas Serrano, Ander Capa, Yuri, Dani Vivian, Nico Williams

ATHLETIC BILBAO (4-4-2): Unai Simon; Oscar De Marcos, Yeray Alvarez, Inigo Martinez, Mikel Balenziaga; Alex Berenguer, Dani Garcia, Oier Zarraga, Iker Muniain; Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet.

Subs: Matheus Cunha, Giuliano Simeone, Alberto Moreno, Luis Suarez, Hector Herrera, Renan Lodi, Rodrigo de Paul, Felipe, Javier Serrano, Benjamin Lecomte, Carlos Martin.

ATLETICO MADRID (3-5-2): Jan Oblak; Sime Vrsaljko, Jose Gimenez, Mario Hermoso; Marcos Llorente, Koke, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Thomas Lemar, Yannick Carrasco; Joao Felix, Angel Correa.

There will be no Antoine Griezmann for the favourites however, out with a muscle injury until next month. It means that Joao Felix and Angel Correa lead the line in attack. Athletic meanwhile call upon a host of established faces, including Unai Simon and Inkai Williams.

But they'll have to get the better of last season's defending champions, who picked up the Supercopa in unusual circumstances, having not actually compete for the Copa del Rey at that time. Athletic are the underdogs here - but they'll fancy their prospects of an upset, no doubt.

It's been something of a tough term for Diego Simeone's reigning league title holders, having struggled to match rivals Real Madrid in the title race for La Liga. But now comes the chance to earn some silverware to prove they are more than a flash in the pan - and they'll want to deliver the goods.

Good evening and welcome to live commentary of the Supercopa de Espana semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao at the King Fahd International Stadium.

Atlético Madrid v Athletic Club Live Commentary, 13/01/2022

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