EUROPE LEAGUE Granada did not pass the draw against PAOK and finished second

It could not be. Granada will have to settle for second place in the group after drawing scoreless against PAOK at La Tumba. The Nasrids had to win or not PSV to finish this phase as leader, but the Dutch complied against Omonia and Diego Martínez's, despite numerous occasions, they failed to mark the Greeks, who did not play anything. The Nasrids end this phase with a historic round of 32 qualification where they will meet one of the strongest rivals …

Granada sought the leadership in The Tomb of Thessaloniki, although Diego Martínez decided to rotate in the middle of the marathon of matches that the team has been subjected to since the beginning of the season. PAOK did not play anything and the former Real Madrid or Osasuna Pablo García He also took the opportunity to give minutes to other footballers and be able to see them in a high-level match. Thus, Aarón, Eteki, Nehuén, Kenedy, Molina or the youth squad player Pepe started out in the Nasrid, who were trying to impose their game with Milla as the conductor. However, neither team was able to dominate the game and the alternatives came in both areas. The first Granada-born was held by Puertas in a heads-up that the Almeria man failed to specify. Nor was Jorge Molina fine in a poor delivery from a Greek defender that left him alone in front of the goalkeeper, but between the defenders and the goalkeeper they managed to send the ball to a corner. Granada deserved the goal, but it did not come. In fact, Pepe, with a great shot from the front, had the third of the visitors. Molina, upside down, had another good chance, but PAOK also had their arrivals, yes, with less danger from an orderly and solid Nasrid defense. The best Greek came in a foul that Varela finished off, but she found herself with the stick just before the break.

After the restart, another important arrival from Kenedy who, in front of Paschalakis, the goalkeeper took the ball from him at the last moment. PAOK were encouraged as Aaron had his first major intervention on a good punt and then with another shot after a good against Helena. Puertas was still the player who was in the most danger and again the goalkeeper avoided his goal, yes, at the start, he touched the ball with his hand outside the area, but the referee or the linesman saw the action of the who got away with it. Between changes, Swiderski had another chance for the locals. Diego wanted the first place and went with everything with the departure of Soldado by midfielder Eteki. Granada pressed for that goal until the last breath that gave them first place, but it didn't come and PSV, who met Omonia, finished the classification as first, while the Nasrid, already classified, remain second.

Diego: “It is tremendous to be in the hype on Monday with the European elite”

Granada CF coach Diego Martínez said it is “tremendous” that his team is “on Monday in the hype with the European elite” in the draw for the round of 32 of the Europa League, although it will do so as second in Group E after drawing this Thursday in the field of Greek PAOK (0-0).

“We must congratulate the people of Granada because on Monday we will be in the hype for the first time in 90 years and in the year in which we debuted, it is a dream for everyone”, Diego indicated at the press conference after the clash in Thessaloniki.

“Beyond the final classification of the group, it is tremendous to be in the hype with the European elite on Monday, it is something unique”added the coach, who put an “outstanding” to the continental journey signed so far by his team.

Regarding the match against PAOK, Diego commented that they lacked “success” because they had the “clearest chances” and they saw “a good version of the team.”

“We played to win and we deserved to go 0-1 at halftime. There are many positive readings of the game, such as recovering a clean sheet, not making serious mistakes and that with some less common players we show the hallmarks of the team”he added.

“We would have liked to get it right on some occasion and win but we have eleven points and we will be in the hype with European giants on Monday “Said the coach, who said that it is “a pride” to see “people who come from the quarry” on the field in European competition.

Diego stressed that his team “gives everything on the green” but also “to recover and face the next training session” so “beyond wear and tear” they continue to maintain “a great illusion to compete” in all competitions. -EFE