THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADRID, Spain — Athletic Bilbao rallied to beat Sporting Gijon 2-1 to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals, where it was joined by Mallorca after a 0-0 draw with Real Betis on Wednesday.
David Lopez and Igor Gabilondo scored for Athletic, a 23-time cup champion, to advance 2-1 on aggregate. Carmelo Gonzalez claimed Sporting’s goal.
Mallorca, which sat 18th in the league and in the drop zone, got through in the cup thanks to a 1-0 victory in the first leg.
Runaway Spanish leader Barcelona faces its first must-win match in its treble trophy quest on Thursday when it faces crosstown rival Espanyol at Camp Nou after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
Also on Thursday, Valencia holds a 3-2 lead travelling to Sevilla in a quarter-final featuring the past two cup holders.
Gonzalez beat Athletic’s Gorka Iraizoz at El Molinon Stadium with a low shot from the edge of the area after just 30 seconds.
But the early goal seemed to rally Athletic, which also beat Sporting on its way to its last cup victory 25 years ago.
Lopez skied Fernando Llorente’s short cross with no one but Sanchez to beat in the third. Four minutes later, Athletic cleared Michel Marcos’ goal-bound chance.
Sanchez dove to deny Koikili Lertxundi’s low drive in the 18th just before Carmelo cleared an Athletic chance off the line.
Gabilondo delicately volleyed Fernando Llorente’s flick-on over Sporting goalkeeper Sergio Sanchez in the 42nd to put Athletic through thanks to the away-goal rule.
Lopez scored the winner in the 52nd after Pablo Orbaiz jumped on a Sporting turnover to streak up the right flank and find his Athletic teammate alone in the box for an easy header.
Substitute Fran Yeste curled a free kick off the post in the 74th for Athletic, which will play the Sevilla-Valencia winner. Mallorca will get either Barcelona or Espanyol.
At the Ruiz de Lopera, Betis welcomed Chile winger Mark Gonzalez back after a three-month injury layoff but it was Mallorca which enjoyed the early chances as it advanced to the semis for the first time in six years, when it won the knockout competition for the only time.
Fernando Varela couldn’t convert in the 20th and saw Betis goalie Ricardo Soares save his left-footed strike in the 36th.
Mallorca’s Oscar Trejo had a chance in the 50th before Betis finally pressed, with Mallorca goalie Dudu Aouate denying Luciano Monzon a minute later.
Nelson Augusto and Mehmet Aurelio came close near the end but Betis stayed winless in four matches to increase pressure on under-fire coach Paco Chaparro.