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Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca have booked themselves semi-final places in the Copa del Rey with aggregate wins over Sporting Gijon and Real Betis.

Igor Gabilondo and David Lopez gave Athletic Club a 2-1 aggregate win at Sporting Gijon, that earned them a meeting with either Sevilla or holders Valencia in their semi-final, first leg next week.

Valencia visit Sevilla holding a 3-2 first-leg advantage.

The 2003 Copa winners Mallorca held Betis 0-0 in Seville to go through 1-0 on aggregate, and will face either Barcelona or Espanyol in the last four.

Liga leaders Barca play Espanyol at the Nou Camp after a goalless first leg.

Athletic, who won the last of their 23 Copa del Rey in 1984, were behind from inside the first minute in Gijon, when Sporting's Carmelo fired in from the edge of the area.

The Basques came close on a number of occasions in an open encounter but it was Gabilondo who levelled before the break, lobbing Sergio Sanchez after chasing a flick-on.

Sporting's defence, that was breached five times away to Getafe in the league, went missing six minutes after the re-start gifting Lopez a free header that settled the tie.

Mallorca are in the relegation places in La Liga but they were good for their 0-0 draw away from home, as Alhassane Keita's first-leg goal proved enough to put them through.

However, the Cup exit increases the pressure on Betis coach Paco Chaparro, whose side have lost their way in recent weeks and now sit four points above the bottom three in the league.

Reuters