Spain round-up: Athletic steal advantage

Second-half goals from Joseba Etxeberria and Ismael Urzaiz earned Athletic Club Bilbao a 2-1 win over Real Madrid CF in the opening leg of their King's Cup semi-final at San Mamés stadium on Wednesday.

Zidane opener
Madrid, aiming to make it through to a final that will be staged at their Santiago Bernabéu home on the club's 100th birthday, 6 March, gave themselves the perfect platform as Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring on four minutes.

Late winner
The Basque side drew level on 64 minutes, however, Etxeberria latching on to a long ball down the right and striking a sweet shot over Iker Casillas and inside the far post. Athletic pushed for a winner and they were rewarded five minutes from time when Urzaiz chested down a flick-on from Santi Ezquerro and squeezed a left-footed shot home.

Alavés miss chance
It was not all bad news for Madrid, however, as Deportivo Alavés missed the chance to join them at the top of the Primera División, going down 2-0 at Rayo Vallecano.

Rayo off the bottom
Roberto Peragón put Rayo ahead with a 54th-minute penalty and his cross set up Elvir Bolic to make it two 13 minutes from time. Rayo, who had Jordi Ferrón sent off in injury time, have now climbed off the foot of the table, moving a point and a place above Real Sociedad. Alavés remain in second place, three points off the summit.