Deprived of Antoine Griezmann, Atlético de Madrid are up against the wall when they move onto the pitch at Atlhetic Bilbao on Thursday in the semi-final second leg of the Copa del Rey.
Yet favorites of the competition after having eliminated Real Madrid in the round of 16 (4-2, ap), then Sevilla FC in the quarterfinals (1-0), the Madrilenians fell at home in the first leg, lost 1- 0 at Civitas Metropolitano.
It will not be easy to overthrow these Basques, who are sticking to them in the Championship (fifth, three lengths behind) and defeating FC Barcelona (4-2, ap) in the quarters.
Especially since Diego Simeone made official at a press conference the absence of Antoine Griezmann, flamboyant since the start of the season but who is suffering from a sprained ankle suffered during the round of 16 first leg of C1, on February 20 .
In the other half, Real Sociedad, PSG's opponent in the round of 16 of the Champions League (return on March 5), was eliminated by Mallorca on Tuesday evening (1-1, 4-5 on the tabs, 0- 0 on the way out).
The final will take place on April 6 in Seville.
The match between Athletic Bilbao and Atlético de Madrid is scheduled to kick off at 9:30 p.m. this Thursday, February 29.
The match will be broadcast live on the L'Equipe channel.