Two Copa del Rey aficionados will square off in a tantalising quarter-final on Wednesday night, as Athletic Bilbao host Barcelona at San Mames.
Ernesto Valverde reunites with his former employers after leading the Basque outfit to a 2-0 win over Alaves in the last 16, while La Blaugrana saw off Unionistas 3-1.
Semi-finalists in each of the past four editions of the Copa del Rey - as well as clinching runners-up medals in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 tournaments, where both finals were played two weeks apart - Athletic Bilbao have continued to flaunt their knockout prowess since the 2023-24 campaign began.
A one-time Copa del Rey winner with upcoming foes Barcelona, Valverde - who also led Athletic to the 2014-15 final during his second of three spells in charge of the club - has overseen a quartet of relatively straightforward successes in the current edition, where Rubi, Cayon, Eibar and Alaves have been no match for Wednesday's hosts.
Athletic prevailed away from home against the latter three sides before putting two past Alaves without reply at San Mames on January 16, where Asier Villalibre struck either side of the half-time whistle to send Athletic into the quarters for the fifth year running.
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