Brothers Inaki and Nico Williams teamed up with goals and assists to each other as Athletic Bilbao defeated Atletico Madrid 3-0 to reach their third Copa del Rey final in five seasons.
Gorka Guruzeta also scored for Athletic as it advanced 4-0 on aggregate after having won the first leg 1-0 in Madrid three weeks ago. The Basque Country club will play the April 6 final in Seville against Mallorca, who eliminated Athletic rivals Real Sociedad on penalties. “Inaki and I have been getting along very well,” Nico said. “This victory goes to my parents who are in Ghana. Ghana will be a party.”
Nico and Inaki are sons of Ghanaian parents who migrated to Spain before they were born. They are among the few Black athletes to ever play at the club that historically fields only players from Spain’s northern Basque Country region or adjoining areas. “We have fought hard to be able to enjoy things like this,” Inaki said. “It’s a night to enjoy and to be proud.”
There was fan trouble ahead of the match, with Atletico saying one of its supporters was hospitalised with serious injuries after an altercation with Athletic fans. Source: AP