Ernesto Valverde happy Antoine Griezmann will miss Athletic Club-Atletico Madrid clash – 'It still hurts'

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone officially confirmed this on Wednesday will be without Antoine Griezmann for the second leg of their semi-final of the Copa del Rey with Athletic Club, which takes place in San Mames.

It's a hammer blow for Atleti, as they aim to overturn the one-goal deficit from the first leg at Civitas Metropolitano. Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde admits that it is a big benefit for his team that Griezmann is not available for selection, MD.

“He's a great player who also tends to score goals against us. In the last two he hasn't, but he still hurts us. We hope he recovers, it's a significant loss for them.”

However, he also understands that Atleti will be very difficult to play against, even despite their home advantage and the absence of Griezmann.

“(Simeone) has the patience to defend and also defend well, it is difficult to pass his lines. But I understand that he will try to go for the game as he did here in the league and in the first stage, I suppose it will be similar. Everything that compensates for not being too disintegrated, having a structure to attack and to defend.”

It should be a cracking occasion at San Mames on Thursday, with both teams likely to be away. However, there is no doubt that Griezmann is missed Atletico Madrid it's a big, big boost for Athletic Club.