Granada fights against history and against Athletic - La Provincia

The Granada CF receive this Thursday at Athletic Club at Nuevo Los Cármenes (9.00 pm) in the second leg of the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, a duel in which the Nasrids will have to go around 1-0 of the first leg in San Mamés to be able to play their second final in their history, while the 'lions' want to go out to bite to qualify for their 24th Cup title .

There is no comparison between Granada and Athletic if you look at that medal winners, and Bilbao also go to Granada with a goal of advantage in the sack, but the locals have overcome several obstacles to make history and want to make it even more heroic with a comeback that puts them in a final that few dreamed at the beginning of this adventure.

If Athletic would be Prince' Being the second club with more Cups of the King in his medal, just behind FC Barcelona, ​​Granada looks for a comeback that will take him to what would be his second final in its history, after which he lost in 1959 precisely against Barça 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

Hence, the city of Granada is going to dump with theirs and try to give them that extra energy to flip the goal of Iker Muniain in the first round. It has been too long since the Nasrids go so far and, in a dream season, don't settle for stopping there As much as in front is a team with much more tradition and experience in the Copa del Rey.

Athletic knows what to score in Los Cármenes has double prize, and maybe that's why Gaizka Garitano wants his players not to think that they already played and won a first leg. He does not want to lock himself back but play "normal", going for the game, knowing that Granada will fight until the end and has shown in this competition that he knows how to suffer to reach his goal.

Granada played three extensions against CE L'Hospitalet, CF Badalona and CD Badajoz and surpassed them. He also beat the Tamaraceite UD in a field little given to flourishes. And in the quarterfinals the current champion was charged; Valencia CF. Now, in 'semis', in the first double-play tie, he must make a new crush; overcome an adverse 1-0.

The Athletic Club has also suffered to reach this situation. He eliminated Intercity and Sestao River in the first and second round, then he had to seek his fortune on penalties against Elche CF and CD Tenerife and in fourths he gave everything to eliminate FC Barcelona, ​​in San Mamés, with a goal from Iñaki Williams in the discount.

A Williams who connected perfectly with Iker Muniain to achieve the 1-0 with which he reaches this second leg. He had the Granada options to mark in San Mamés and to have changed the history of this duel, but it was not like that and he also saw the lions forgive clear occasions. Destiny put that marker and, now, on a New Los Cármenes that must be full to the top and being the number twelve player, he will explain who will be in the final.

In LaLiga Santander, Granada is above an Athletic that comes from beating Villarreal at home (1-0) and cutting a bad run of four straight losses in the domestic competition. A little air for Garitano, while those of Diego Martínez have been undefeated for three days and still dream of getting hooked on the European train, something they could do if their revelation season is confirmed. And the Cup could give encouragement to believe even more in them.

The low by penalty of the forward Roberto Soldado It will be very important in Granada, being one of the most experienced players in matches of this importance. It is also serious doubt midfielder Yan Eteki, played after the League match against Celta, and Martinez looks with magnifying glass at Domingos Duarte, Dimitri Foulquier and Yangel Herrera, although he points out that they can play this semifinal.

Gaizka Garitano, meanwhile, also has sanctioned Dani García, One of its props this season. In the absence of knowing if he bets on a defense of four or five, the rojiblanco coach has the rest of the players at his disposal to find a final in which they have not been since 2015, when they lost at Camp Nou against FC Barcelona.

Data sheet

--Possible alignments

Pomegranate: Rui Silva; Foulquier, Víctor Díaz, Germán, Domingos Duarte, Carlos Neva; Gonalons, Yangel Herrera; Antonio Puertas, Machís and Carlos Fernández.

Athletic: Unai Simon; Capa, Yeray, Unai Núñez, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; San José, Vesga; Williams, Raúl García and Muniain.

--Referee: From the Cerro Grande (C. Madrileño).

--Stadium: New Los Cármenes.

--Time: 21.00 / DAZN and Four.