REPORT. Two flashes of Athletic Club quality wrap up the game in the first half (0-3)

Two flashes of quality and a piece of bad luck ensured that Eibar's 3-0 defeat to Athletic Club in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey was decided before half-time in a packed Ipurua stadium. A crowd of 7,499 fans were in attendance.

The first half was much more evenly matched than the scoreline suggested in terms of dominance and play, but the Bilbao side's attacking prowess showed in three occasions, with the away side putting together incisive attacks.

The first clear opportunity of the match went in favour of the Armeros. In the 10th minute, Jon Bautista got behind the visitors' defense after a deep pass, but his one-on-one shot against Agirrezabala was saved.

In the 17th minute, it was 0-1 when Nico WIlliams' individual run was converted by Villalibre in front of goal. In the 33rd minute, Muniain received a pass from Williams and scored with a left-footed shot into the top corner. In the 40th minute, Villalibre's seemingly harmless shot ricocheted off an Eibar defender and into Yoel's goal. It was 0-3 at halftime, an excessive result based on the balance of the action.

In the second half, the introduction of Mario Soriano and Stoichkov boosted Eibar's attack. In the 61st minute, Stoichkov almost scored with a left-footed shot that went just over.

In the final minutes, the intensity of the game dropped, and the match ended without any second half goals.