Atletico Madrid set up Real Madrid cup final

27 February 2013 23:17

Atletico Madrid will play Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Cup after a 2-2 with Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan saw them progress 4-3 on aggregate.

The visitors killed the tie off in the opening half hour as fine goals from Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao left Sevilla needing four without reply to go through.

Unai Emery's men though did manage to get back on level terms on the evening as Jesus Navas curled in a wonderful shot off the inside of the post six minutes before half-time and Ivan Rakitic added a consolation with a low shot into the far corner in stoppage time.

However, the hosts also ended with nine men as Gary Medel and Geoffrey Kondogbia saw red cards for late challenges on Costa.

It will be the fifth time that both sides from the capital will meet in the cup final and despite Atletico currently leading Real by four points in the league, it will be Los Blancos who start as strong favourites as they haven't lost a derby since 1999.

However, Diego Simeone's men gave themselves the chance to put that record to rest with a clinical first-half display in which they scored with their only two shots on target.

Costa got them off to the perfect start after just six minutes as he outmuscled Alberto Botia on the edge of the area before firing low into the far corner for his third goal of the tie.

And the Brazilian was heavily involved again as Atletico doubled their lead as he burst down the left and his cross was expertly swept home first time by Falcao.

The scoreline was harsh on Sevilla who had bossed the majority of the opening period, but they did get some reward for their efforts just before the break as Navas gave Thibaut Courtois no chance with a perfectly judged effort that curled just inside the far post.

Both sides then had clear chances as the game became increasingly stretched in the second-half with Manu del Moral firing straight at Courtois before Costa somehow side-footed wide with just Beto to beat.

Falcao and Alvaro Negredo also headed off target when they should have scored, but any chance Sevilla had of a late fightback was lost when Medel was sent-off for as he received two yellow cards for first fouling Costa and then appearing to say something to the striker as he lay on the ground.

Rakitic did manage to reduce the arrears further with a well-placed drive in injury time but Sevilla's frustration was summed up when Kondogbia was shown a striaght red card for stamping on Costa moments later.

Source: AFP