Copa del Rey semi-final draw summary: teams, pairings, games and dates

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We’re going to wrap up this live feed.

Can Atlético Madrid return to the trophy decider after just over a decade away? Can Athletic Club and Real Sociedad set up a final date for the second time in the space of five seasons? Can Real Mallorca end a 21-year wait for a crack at the domestic cup’s showpiece occasion? We’ll find out next month.

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When did Mallorca and La Real last meet in Copa?

You don’t have to go very far back to find Real Mallorca and Real Sociedad’s most recent Copa clash.

It came in last season’s round of 16, La Real winning 1-0 thanks to a goal early doors by Robert Navarro.

When did Atlético and Athletic last meet in Copa?

This will be Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club’s first meeting in the Copa del Rey since the 2013/14 season, when the pair faced off in the quarter-finals.

Atlético, who that year were the holders, triumphed 3-1 over two legs, before losing 5-0 on aggregate to Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

When will the semi-finals be played?

A reminder that the first leg of the semi-finals will be played on 6, 7 or 8 February 2024, with the returns scheduled for one of 27, 28 or 29 February.

The four teams are competing to reach the final in Seville on 6 April.

All-Basque final still possible!

My first reaction to that draw is that, with Athletic and Real Sociedad kept apart, we still have the possibility of a Basque derby in April’s final in Seville.

After their 2020 final couldn’t be held in front of fans, that really would be special to see.

Second semi-final tie: Atlético vs Athletic Club

As expected, Athletic Club's name is the last of the four teams to come out of the hat.

Los Leones will take on Atlético Madrid, with the second leg at San Mamés in Bilbao.

First semi-final tie: Real Mallorca vs Real Sociedad

Next out are... Real Sociedad! So the Basques will take on Mallorca.

Mallorca at home in the first leg, Real Sociedad at home in the return.

First out are Mallorca and Atlético - who, I repeat, go into separate semi-final ties.

We're told that the first two balls out won't be the first tie, but the home team in each of the first legs.

Draw underway!

And finally.... draw time!

Former Athletic favourite Andoni Goikoetxea, who was involved in Los Leones’ most recent Copa win, in 1984, joins Arconada and Franco on stage. And, representing Atlético, it’s 1985 winner Miguel Ángel Ruiz.

This feels like a lot of draw assistants for the sake of four balls.

Hermoso: Atleti "ready" for semis

We now go to Atlético Madrid’s Mario Hermoso, who played the full 90 in Los Rojiblancos' 1-0 win over Sevilla yesterday. 

Hermoso says over the video link: “We know how hard it was to get here, and we’re ready for these semis. It’ll be a really tough tie over two legs.”

Herrera: Athletic "feel strong and raring to go"

Athletic midfielder Ander Herrera, who came on as a sub in Los Leones' quarter-final win over Barcelona, is the next player to join us via video link. "We're really excited," Herrera says (that's becoming something of a theme of these interviews). 

"We have a lot of respect for all three of the teams we could face, but we're going to play one of the semi-final matches in front of our fans, and we feel strong and raring to go."

Goalkeepers' union in Copa draw

Arconada is to be joined in carrying out the draw by fellow former goalkeeper Leo Franco, who was in the Mallorca team when Los Bermellones lifted their first and so far only Copa del Rey, in 2003.

Mallorca's Rodríguez: Great for island to be in semis

We now go live to Real Mallorca's Dani Rodríguez, who says: “It’s been a long time since we got to this stage, so for the club, for the island, it’s really exciting. [In the quarter-finals against Girona], “We were up against a top team who are having a great season.”

Arconada to assist with draw

Legendary former Real Sociedad and Spain goalkeeper Luis Arconada is brought on stage and is going to be helping out with the draw.

Arconada, who is, sadly, best known to a global audience for his rick in Spain's Euro 84 final defeat by France, was a Copa winner with La Real in 1987.

La Real's Elustondo aiming for final in front of fans

Next, we talk to Real Sociedad's Artiz Elustondo. "We're really excited," he says. "We'd like to get through to the final and play it in front of our fans this time," he adds, in reference to the 2020 final against regional rivals Athletic. Delayed until April 2021 because of the covid-19 pandemic, it was played behind closed doors at La Cartuja.

The painter, Toni Ortiz, has now reassembled the painted squares into the shape of the trophy.

"This is a metaphor for the competition," he explains. Something about the squares representing the teams and the picture becoming clearer as the competition progresses.

Still waiting for the draw...

You're not missing anything in Madrid, by the way. To kick off the draw event, some bloke is on stage painting what looks like some sort of jigsaw-mosaic of the Copa del Rey trophy.

There are only four teams after all, folks; they've got to find some way to stretch this thing out.

Breaking: Klopp to leave Liverpool

Incidentally, just before we focus in on the Copa del Rey semi-final draw, let me bring you some major breaking news if you haven't heard it already: Jürgen Klopp has announced that he is to step down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season.

In this video, the German explains why he is to leave Anfield after nearly nine successful years in charge.

Also, my colleague Joe Brennan has looked at what might be next for Klopp.

Almost draw time!

Right, it's 1pm local time and it's almost time for the semi-final draw to begin.

A reminder of the four teams in the hat:

- Athletic Club
- Real Mallorca
- Real Sociedad
- Atlético Madrid/Sevilla

When and where will the Copa del Rey final be played?

This seaon’s Copa del Rey final will be played at (sigh) the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, on Saturday 6 April.

It will be the fifth year in a row that the stadium has staged the showpiece event.

When will the semi-finals be played?

While Copa del Rey ties are single-game affairs in every other round before and after the semi-finals, the last four will be played over two legs.

According to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), the first legs will take place in the week beginning 5 February, with the second legs held in the week beginning 26 February.

It’s expected that they’ll be played on Wednesday 7 and Wednesday 28 February.

How will the Copa semi-final draw work?

In earlier rounds of the Copa del Rey, the draw procedure come with a series conditions aimed at giving lower-league teams home ties against clubs from higher divisions.

However, it was an open draw in the quarter-finals, and the same will be true today. Anyone can face anyone.

Copa del Rey to change hands once more

We also won’t be seeing the Copa del Rey be retained this year. Last season’s winners were Real Madrid, who were beaten by Atlético in the last 16 - a victory that gave Los Rojiblancos some measure of revenge for their Spanish Super Cup defeat to Madrid a week earlier.

This year will be the sixth on the trot that the Copa has changed hands. 

Barcelona lifted the trophy four times in a row before the current sequence of winners, which reads: Valencia (2019), Real Sociedad (2020), Barça (2021), Real Betis (2022) and Real Madrid (2023).

Field of former Copa winners

As you’ll have surmised from my last post, Athletic Club are the most decorated team left in this season’s competition.

You may also have joined the dots from my previous posts to work out that we won’t be witnessing a first-time winner this year, as the three other sides in the semi-final hat all have at least one Copa on their resumé.

Atlético Madrid have lifted the trophy 10 times; Real Sociedad have won it twice; and Mallorca, once.

Milestone semi for Athletic

This will be Athletic Club's 50th appearance in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. The Basques are the tournament's second-most decorated team, with trophy wins, but it's now 40 years since they lifted their last Copa.

Only Barcelona, who have won the Copa 31 times, have been more successful in the competition.

Copa del Rey quarter-finals: results in full

Tuesday 23 January

Celta Vigo 1-2 Real Sociedad

Wednesday 24 January

Real Mallorca 3-2 Girona
Athletic Club 4-2 Barcelona (aet)

Thursday 25 January 

Atlético Madrid 1-0 Sevilla

How did Real Sociedad reach the semi-finals?

Real Sociedad have returned to the semi-finals for the first time since beating Basque rivals Athletic in the 2020 final.

The Txuri-urdin booked their last-four spot with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Tuesday, thanks to goals by Mikel Oyarzabal and Sheraldo Becker. Luca de la Torre scored a late consolation for Celta.

(Photo: SALVADOR SAS/DIARIO AS)

How did Real Mallorca reach the semi-finals?

Winners of the Copa del Rey in 2003, Real Mallorca are into their first semi-final since 2009. Los Bermellones saw off LaLiga leaders Girona 3-2 on Wednesday, in a game that saw Javier Aguirre’s side take a 3-0 half-time lead.

Cyle Larin opened the scoring for Mallorca, before an Abdón Prats double at Son Moix. Cristhian Stuani and Savinho replied for Girona.

(Photo: MIQUEL A. BORRAS/DIARIO AS)

How did Athletic reach the semi-finals?

Athletic Club are through to the Copa del Rey semi-finals for the fifth straight season.

The 2020 and 2021 finalists earned a thrilling win over Barcelona in the last eight, Iñaki Williams and brother Nico Williams scoring extra-time goals to secure a 4-2 victory.

(Photo: AIOL/DIARIO AS)

Shades of Beckham '03 in Griezmann miss

Griezmann's penalty miss was reminiscent of that David Beckham spot-kick in Turkey back in 2003. Like the England captain did two decades ago, the Frenchman slipped as he struck the ball, sending it rocketing into orbit.

How did Atlético reach the semi-finals?

Atlético, who haven’t been back to the final since last winning the Copa in 2013, reached their fourth semi-final in the past 11 years with a narrow quarter-final win over struggling Sevilla on Thursday.

Antoine Griezmann absolutely skied a first-half penalty for Atleti - and I mean skied - before Memphis Depay’s late goal earned Diego Simeone’s men a 1-0 win at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano.

(Photo: JAVIER GANDUL/Diario AS)

COPA DEL REY

Copa del Rey semifinal draw: how to watch

With just under an hour to go, you may still be wondering how you can watch the draw. If that's the case, let me point you in the direction of my colleague Andy Restrepo's guide on where to tune in.

Which teams are in the draw?

The Copa del Rey semi-final line-up is as follows:

- Atlético Madrid

- Athletic Club

- Real Mallorca

- Real Sociedad

What time does the draw start?

Once again held at the Spanish Football Federation's headquarters on the outskirts of Madrid, the ball-pluckage is scheduled to get underway at 1pm local time. In the United States, that's the not entirely civilised time of 7am ET/4am PT.

(Photo: Eidan Rubio/RFEF)

Copa del Rey semi-final draw live online: welcome!

Hello there! The January frenzy of Copa del Rey action is now at an end, leaving us with four clubs still in the hunt to lift Spain's major men's domestic cup. In a short while, we'll be finding out who'll be facing who in the semi-finals.