Athletic Bilbao Vs. Mirandes, Copa Del Rey 2012 Semifinals: Marcelo Bielsa's Men Advance With 8-3 Aggregate Win

Athletic Bilbao Vs. Mirandes, 2012 Copa Del Rey Semifinals: Los Leones Win 6-2

Athletic Bilbao are through to the final of the Copa del Rey, thanks to their 6-2 home victory on Tuesday night, giving them a 8-3 aggregate win over minnows Mirandes. Somehow advancing all the way to the semifinals despite their third division status, Mirandes never went into a shell and tried to outplay their opponents for 180 minutes. As the score indicates, they came up a bit short.

The opening half hour was all Athletic. Iker Munian scored in the 11th minute with a fantastic finish, and Markel Susaeta doubled the lead just three minutes later with a nice strike of his own, following up on a scramble and a couple of blocked Athletic shots. Jon Aurtenetxe made it 3-0 to Athletic on the night and 5-1 on aggregate in the 22nd minute, heading in a corner.

Athletic slowed things down at that point and went into halftime up 3-0. Aldeano Aitor Blanco got one back for Mirandes off a mad scramble in the box in the 56th minute, and that opened things up considerably. Fernando Llorente would score the next two goals, the first with a brilliant chip in the 71st minute and the second just four minutes later with a tap-in. Blanco gave Mirandes a second goal in the 86th minute before his teammate Fernandez Cesar Caneda gifted Athletic their sixth on the night with an 88th minute own goal.

Los Leones now await the winner of the Barcelona - Valencia tie, which will conclude Wednesday.

Athletic Bilbao Vs. Mirandes, Copa Del Rey 2012 Semifinals: Preview, Time And TV Schedule

Mirandes are down, but the third-tier side aren't out of their Copa del Rey semifinal against Athletic Bilbao. After a 2-1 loss at home, they'll probably need a two-goal win in Bilbao to get to the finals. Can they work another miracle?