(Football news) While the visitors have avoided defeat in their last three games, Atleti has not lost in their last six competitive games. Following a 1-1 draw with their local rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, Atletico will enter the cup match on Wednesday feeling rejuvenated.

After Brahim Diaz’s goal in the first half, Diego Simeone’s team looked certain to lose, but Marcos Llorente headed home in the third minute of stoppage time to salvage a point for his team.

As they start to dream of winning the competition for the 11th time in their history and the first time since taking home the title in the 2012–13 season, they will now focus on Wednesday’s Copa del Rey match.

Atleti only had to go through two rounds to make it to their first Copa del Rey semifinal in seven years, thanks to their involvement in the Spanish Super Cup. They defeated Lugo, a lower division, in the last 16 and went on to defeat reigning champion Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.

Since losing 1-0 to Barcelona in a league match in January 2023, Atleti has won 28 of their competitive games in the Metropolitano, so they should feel confident using home advantage in Wednesday’s first leg.

The hosts have also won their past 13 home games versus Athletic (W11, D2). Their most recent home loss to Los Leones occurred in January 2011 at the Vicente Calderon, the old home of Atletico Madrid.

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