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A season-defining month for Los Rojiblancos, and it?s not off to a good start. Atlético Madrid picked a really bad time to have ?one of those days.?
The ball just would not go in on Wednesday night, when Atlético huffed and puffed and did nearly everything it could to break down Athletic Club?s defensive wall. Athletic hardly had an opportunity but did not miss the one it got ? Beñat Prados won a penalty midway through the first half, cut down just inside the area by Reinildo Mandava?s two-footed lunge, and Álex Berenguer converted it. The Basques held on for a precious 1-0 win in the first leg of this Copa del Rey semifinal, condemning Atleti to its first loss at the Cívitas Metropolitano in 29 games ? a stretch encompassing 395 calendar days. It was only the second time in 15 games that Atlético failed to score. The opponent in that other game" Athletic.
?There is an advantage for Athletic, they are playing (the second leg) at home, in front of their fans,? Diego Simeone told reporters Wednesday night. ?They have an advantage, but football is football and anything can happen.?

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So true. Athletic?s odds to get anything out of the Metropolitano matchup lengthened with the news that star winger Nico Williams would not play due to an injury picked up the previous Friday. Los Leones had two days? more rest...