In an intense Copa del Rey showdown, Athletic Bilbao took a significant 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid on their turf on the 7th of February at 20:30 EEST. This victory was a testament to Bilbao's defensive prowess and opportunistic attack, factors that empirically influenced the outcome of the match.

Athletic Bilbao positioned themselves early as an aggressive squad, scoring their only goal in the first half at the 24th minute. This early lead put more pressure on Atletico Madrid, who had to change their game strategy to play more aggressively in terms of attack. However, Atletico Madrid could not convert their attempts into goals, leaving the scoreline 1-0 in favour of Bilbao.

Analyzing the defensive play, it is clear that Bilbao's discipline and structure played a vital role in their victory. Despite receiving two yellow cards, both in the first half, Bilbao managed to maintain a sturdy defense throughout the game. With a total of 11 fouls committed, this indicates how Bilbao focused on a more physical approach, making it tougher for Madrid to penetrate their defense.

Contrarily, Atletico Madrid, while remaining disciplined with only one yellow issued and committing fewer fouls (5), were less successful in converting their strategic play into scoring opportunities. Statistically, Atletico Madrid had an equal share of corner kicks (4), but failed to capitalize on these potentially threatening situations, leaving them goalless against Bilbao's staunch defense.

The Offside stats with Madrid getting called for it 2 times against Bilbao's singular Offside seem to signal that Madrid had to push more into Bilbao's half to create scoring opportunities, which again reflects the pressure they were under due to the early goal by the away team.

In conclusion, while both teams displayed a fair share of tactical play in their attacks and defenses, Athletic Bilbao's physical defensive play and opportune attack allowed them to come out on top in this exhilarating Copa del Rey contest. Despite an equally strong performance by Atletico Madrid, specifically in controlling their discipline on the field, they fell short due to their inability to convert corner kicks into goals and falling into offside traps, depicting the pressure Bilbao's early goal had placed upon them.

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