Sergio Garcia comes out to the right and finds space from which to swing a cross towards the back post, where Gurpegui nods it behind for a corner.
90' +1
We are into the first of an added four minutes. The Ultras behind Pau's goal are still swinging their scarves and singing at the top of their voices - credit to them.
90'
Aymeric Laporte enters the game and replaces I. Williams.
Aymeric Laporte is on in place of Williams.
89'
SO CLOSE AGAIN! Benat's corner is met by San Jose at the near post, but his attempt to steer a header inside the far upright spins narrowly off target at the last moment!
88'
ALMOST A THIRD! Benat's corner is headed on target by Aduriz, and as it bounces in front of Pau he spills it. Gurpegui is first to the loose ball but he can only thump it into the keeper's chest before it is cleared behind again.
87'
Álvaro González gets yellow.
Aduriz gets the beating of Alvaro in front of the dugout, and the centre-back takes him down shamelessly. It earns him a yellow card and he has no complaints.
86'
The Blanquiazules have resorted to clipping long diagonal crosses into the box at every opportunity, even though nothing has come of a single delivery. The visiting supporters are jubilant in the stands, jumping, singing and swinging their scarves.
84'
Beñat enters the game and replaces Muniain.
Muniain is replaced by Benat for the remainder.
83'
Sevilla clips a pass over to the right for Sanchez, who tries to volley the ball back into the box. It is blocked by Etxeita and the fans claim for handball, but it clearly came off his hip.
81'
The stands are beginning to empty now, with some Espanyol supporters clearly feeling the tie is as good as over. Three goals in the remaining 10 minutes or so does sound an unrealistic proposition, but stranger things have happened!
Minute
Description
79'
Stuani comes inside from the right before moving the ball on to Sanchez. The midfielder tries his luck from 25 yards, producing a wild effort that is never going to worry Iraizoz.
77'
WHAT A WASTE! Williams turns on the afterburners, steaming past Canas and Alvaro to latch onto the ball inside the box. He has Muniain racing forward in support but instead takes an early shot from an acute angle and completely misses the target. His team-mate isn't happy!
76'
The Blanquiazules are just pinging crosses into the centre, but there are so many bodies in there that it's difficult for anyone to get a clean run on the ball.
74'
Time is really running out for Espanyol now. They've not done enough to test the recently introduced Iraizoz since he came on.
72'
De Marcos wastes an absolutely brilliant chance for Athletic to catch Espanyol on the counterattack, hesitating on the ball when Muniain was making a run clean through on goal. His decision to slow the play is a bad one, as he is instantly dispossessed by the recovering Sanchez.
70'
Salva Sevilla enters the game and replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Gurpegui makes an important challenge to keep Sergio Garcia at bay as he looks to pull the trigger from an acute angle inside the box. It is deflected behind for a corner which is then turned over the top.
Lucas Vazquez is replaced by Sevilla for the remainder, and he isn't happy about it!
69'
GOOD SAVE! Iraizoz's first action is a positive one, as he keeps out Sanchez's stinging strike from 20 yards. He scored a stunning effort in the first leg, but was denied another there.
67'
Anaitz Arbilla gets yellow.
Arbilla is caught out of position, and after chasing back he completely cleans out Muniain, earning a yellow card from the referee. Iraola sends the free kick into the box and Pau punches it away.
66'
Iraizoz enters the game and replaces Iago Herrerín.
Iago is helped off the pitch by the medical staff and receives a warm reception from the crowd. Before play continues Iraizoz is introduced, though he takes his time getting his gloves on!
64'
Iago has gone down inside the box after playing a simple pass out wide and is in need of treatment. Within a matter of moments Iraizoz starts getting ready, so it must be a pulled muscle that will stop him from continuing.
62'
Iraola whips in a free kick from the left which evades all the players in the box. Gurpegui keeps it alive out on the right, but his attempt to guide the ball back into the middle ends up flying straight out for a corner.
60'
There are just 30 minutes remaining for Espanyol to salvage their Copa del Rey campaign. They're beginning to show positive signs on the counterattack but are too ready to commit fouls when Athletic attack, and that only serves to wind down the clock.
58'
OFF THE POST! Caicedo nearly pulls one back for the host in an almost identical fashion to how Aduriz opened the scoring. He takes a touch at the top of the box before shooting on the turn, but Iago gets his fingertips to it, turning it onto the post before smothering the rebound.
57'
De Marcos does superbly to get between Sergio Garcia and the ball as the Espanyol captain attempted to get the better of him down the left wing.
55'
There's a coming together between Moreno and Aduriz off the ball, with the later pulling the Mexican which drew a kick out from the centre-back. The referee has a good look but opts to let play continue unhindered.
54'
Sergio Garcia finds a pocket of space at the top of the box, and he is slipped in by a great pass from Lucas Vazquez. He gets to the byline and fizzes a cross into the six-yard box which Gurpegui does well to clear.
53'
Iraola chips an exquisite pass over the top of the defence for Aduriz, but the striker had drifted into an offside position. His shot was held comfortably by Pau, anyway.
51'
So, Espanyol have gone to three up from, with Caicedo through the middle and Stuani and Sergio Garcia flanking him. They are going to need a goal soon if they want to keep their hopes of progressing alive.
49'
F. Caicedo enters the game and replaces Víctor Álvarez.
Sergio makes an attacking change, bringing on Caicedo in place of Alvarez. Williams nearly makes it 3-0, though, spinning away from his marker before dragging an attempt well wide of the far post.
48'
Mikel Rico catches Lucas Vazquez as he cuts across him in the centre of the Athletic half, and the Espanyol man attempts to shift it to the right for Arbilla in space. Williams wasn't live to it, but the pass is over-hit and goes out.
47'
THAT WOULD HAVE KILLED IT! Muniain gets away from Canas and rolls a pass to Aduriz. The striker gets to the top of the box but slices a powerful shot wide of the near post. Had that gone in it would have been game over.
46'
The second half is underway!
45' +1
After a few seconds of stoppage time, the half-time whistle is blown!
45'
C. Stuani gets yellow.
Stuani becomes the latest player to go into the book following an overzealous challenge on Balenziaga down near the corner flag. He's incensed at the decision, but he got a bit carried away.
44'
OVER THE TOP! Arbilla pushes forward for the first time this evening, and he supplies a brilliant cross which Stuani volleys into the ground. The bounce sends the ball narrowly over the top, with Iago sprawling to ensure it didn't find the net.
42'
Xabier Etxeita has scored a goal for Athletic Bilbao! Assist by Andoni Iraola.
GOOOOOAAAL!! A SECOND FOR THE VISITORS! The corner is sent into the near post at pace by Iraola, and Etxeita gets in front of Stuani to nod it inside the far post! Espanyol will need three goals to qualify now.
41'
Espanyol's defence are all over the place from crosses into the box, and the latest is just helped on its way behind for a corner.
39'
Moreno clips a flat diagonal pass towards the top of the box, which Stuani can only flick on towards the right. There's no one out there anywhere near close enough to keep the ball in play, though, bringing the move to a premature end.
38'
H. Moreno gets yellow.
Victor Sanchez escapes what should certainly have been a yellow card for tripping Aduriz off the ball. However, he still gives the free kick to the visitors, which seems an odd decision! The set-piece is sent towards Aduriz, who commits a foul in his attempt to get on the end of it. Moreno has a word with the referee afterwards and it costs him a yellow card! The official clearly didn't like what he was hearing.
36'
Aduriz shows a surprising turn of pace to get away from Moreno and latch onto a pass down the left. He bides his team before feeding Muniain on his run inside the box. He gets to the byline and gets a deflected cross into the middle which Pau claims underneath his crossbar.
34'
Sergio Garcia rolls a pass to the byline inside the right of the box for Lucas Vazquez, but the midfielder scuffs his cutback back towards the captain and the Athletic defence mop up the ball.
33'
STAT: Espanyol have won all of their matches at the Power8 Stadium during the current Copa del Rey edition, eliminating Alaves, Valencia and Sevilla en route to the semi-finals.
31'
The crowd are becoming more boisterous now, with the last few minutes boosting their hopes. Los Leones won't want to let the Blanquiazules develop momentum in the latter stages of this half.
29'
Alvarez appeals for a penalty after going down inside the box under contact from Iraola. There was very little in it, though, and he was just hunting for it. The referee is correct to let play continue.
28'
BIG SAVE FROM IAGO! Athletic almost gift the hosts a goal, with Balenziaga's attempted back pass falling straight to Stuani. The Uruguayan looks to bend his shot inside the far post but the keeper stays big and gets a hand to it.
27'
NARROW ESCAPE FOR THE HOSTS! Alvaro's attempted clearance ricochets off Muniain and into the path of Aduriz. The striker has the left midfielder and Williams in the box, but his cross is blocked behind for a corner. Moreno was too busy appealing for a free kick rather than concentrating on the task at hand, there.
25'
Athletic nearly score an own goal, but the home fans are happy with a corner as they step up their chanting an extra notch. Lucas Vazquez flights it to the far post, but there is no team-mate there to add a finishing touch.
24'
Almost a howler from Pau! Muniain spots Aduriz surging into space through the middle and he bends a wicked pass into his path. Pau comes off his line to collect but misjudges the flight of the ball and it bounces past him. The striker gets around him and is clipped by the keeper, but he only stumbles to ground when the chance is lost!
23'
Stuani shows great control to bring down a high ball on his chest, and he then lays it off to Sergio Garcia. The captain doesn't know where to turn, though, and is quickly dispossessed by Mikel Rico due to his hesitancy.
22'
Sergio Garcia and Stuani have seen very little of the ball so far tonight. The hosts really need to get that duo involved if they are to bring the tie back onto level terms.
20'
Fuentes sends a pass inside to Canas, but as he looks to continue his run down the wing he is flattened by Iraola. The referee isn't interested in the protests from the stands, allowing play to continue.
18'
Signs of nerves in the heart of Espanyol's defence, as Moreno flicks Iago's kick on towards his own goal. Muniain chases it but two Espanyol players go for the same ball and contrive to stick it out of play for a corner.
17'
Athletic have not stepped off the gas since taking the lead. They know another goal would practically give them one foot in the final.
15'
Lucas Vazquez is left holding his back after being clattered from behind by Balenziaga. He used his body to shield the ball effectively there, but he doesn't get the free kick he feels he deserves.
13'
Aduriz has scored a goal for Athletic Bilbao!
GOOOOOAAAL!! ADURIZ WITH AN AWAY GOAL! Moreno attempts to clear De Marcos' cross but inadvertently sends it straight to the striker. He takes a great first touch to tee himself up for a shot with his second, which is deflected beyond Pau and into the bottom corner!
12'
The visitors are really asserting themselves on their opposition now, with Espanyol struggling to get out of their own half.
10'
WHAT A CHANCE! Iraola's free-kick delivery is poor, but he pulls out wide before making a run into the box and onto Balenziaga's pass from deep. He gets caught between squaring for a team-mate and going for goal and ends up looping the ball behind the far post.
9'
Cañas gets yellow.
It doesn't take long for the referee to get his cards out again, this time brandishing a yellow in the direction of Canas. The former Swansea man pulled Muniain's shirt as he attempted to latch onto a pass down the right wing.
8'
De Marcos gets yellow.
De Marcos picks up a cheap yellow card for hauling back Alvarez after the Espanyol man turned him on the halfway line. Not the brightest move, as he'll be walking a tightrope for the rest of the game now.
7'
Lucas Vazquez supplies another cross into the box, this time from open play. He sends it straight into the arms of Iago, though, with Sergio Garcia lurking beyond.
5'
It looks as though Athletic have lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Inaki Williams playing up top alongside Aduriz. Interestingly, Iraola is playing on the right side of midfield with De Marcos at right-back.
4'
Lucas Vazquez pings a free kick into the box which draws Iago off his line. The keeper realises he won't make it and begins to backtrack before Gurpegui gets a solid head to the ball to send it away.
3'
Los Leones suffered a disappointing elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Torino last week, but come into the game off the back of a 1-0 win over Eibar on Sunday. They've started brightly and will want an away goal as soon as possible.
1'
We are underway at the Power8 Stadium!
I'm Tom Webber, and I'll be taking you through the action!
Espanyol and Athletic are battling tonight to reach the Copa del Rey final, where they will face Barcelona, who came out victorious in the other semi-final against Villarreal earlier this evening. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, with Aritz Aduriz and Victor Sanchez both getting on the scoresheet for their respective sides.
TEAM NEWS...
Athletic (4-2-3-1): Iago; Iraola, Gurpegui, Etxeita, Balenziaga; San Jose, Rico; De Marcos, Muniain, Williams; Aduriz.
Espanyol make four changes from their previous match, in which they defeated Cordoba. Casilla, Sevilla, Abraham, and Caicedo are withdrawn, with Pau, Alvarez, Sanchez, and Stuani making the starting XI. Athletic, meanwhile, make three alterations from their win over Eibar. Iraizoz, Ibai, and Guillermo come out, with Iago, Iraola, and Aduriz stepping up.
Good evening folks, welcome to LIVE coverage of the Copa del Rey semi-final second-leg clash between Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao from Cornella El-Prat!
Espanyol are undefeated in their last 17 home matches against los Leones in all competitions. They will be hoping that stands them in good stead tonight, as local rivals Barcelona await the winner of this tie in the final!
The teams are out, both in their traditional colours, and the game will be underway shortly.
HALF TIME - Espanyol 0-2 Athletic (agg 1-3): The Basque side have taken a commanding position into the interval thanks to goals from Aduriz and Etxeita. Sergio's side will now need three goals if they are to secure a place in the Copa del Rey final against local rivals Barcelona, so they may well go all out after the break. Be sure to stick around for the second half!
There is the final whistle! Athletic are into the Copa del Rey final!
FULL TIME - Espanyol 0-2 Athletic Bilbao (agg 1-3): Goals from Aduriz and Etxeita send los Leones through to the final, where they will face Barcelona, after a strong display against the Blanquiazules. It will be repeat of the 2012 Copa del Rey final!
That's all we have time for tonight. Thank you for joining me, Tom Webber, and have a great evening!
Commentary
More…