- The Basque captain scored before the break at Williams pass
- Athletic was better but Granada managed to defend itself well
- The return, in three weeks in the fief of the Nasrid team
Athletic Club defeated Granada (1-0) on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey held in San Mamés, where the local team was better but could only take that minimum advantage thanks to a goal from Muniain, which leaves the tie that will close the New Los Cármenes the first week of March is still open.
The Gaizka Garitano imposed their status as a local and several more marches in search of the final of Seville. After charging to Barcelona, Athletic jumped with everything to bring a new final, more accessible without culés or Real Madrid. Williams and Muniain shone in the local choral exercise, which however left a 1-0 until good for the Andalusians, apparently and back home.
Muniain on the edge of the break gave a deserved income to the locals, after San Mamés met and also his team in a great first half. The clash began with a warning from Soldier and another from Herrera for the Andalusians, at the beginning of an exchange, but soon the performance remained in Bilbao monologue. The first part was played in the visiting field, in a siege of Athletic.
Williams was once again the best weapon of the 'lions' and broke in the race, winning the clash, although with a peephole. Both Capa and Yuri were looking for him, but Vesga and Yuri himself were encouraged from outside the area. Despite so much fright, Granada neglected Williams' last race before the break and, without opposition, had time to attend the arrival of Muniain for 1-0.
Those of Diego Martínez barely appeared, nor did the Puertas, Carlos Fernández, Gonalons or Machín take out the virtues of a Granada capable of standing up to the best in their season of return to First. The well-worked machinery of the Andalusians grabbed in San Mamés and, despite a better disposition in the second half with Vallejo, did not know how to stop the local momentum or generate danger.
On the contrary, Athletic resumed the danger not only with Williams. Capa could have the semifinal in his left boot, with which he finished off the bottom of the net from the front despite being right-handed. The euphoria of San Mamés was neutralized by the referee's review at the notice of the VAR and the goal was canceled because Williams was in the goalkeeper's line of sight. The battering ram could get even but Rui Silva avoided it, in a second act more locked by the faults.
Vallejo also suffered and Granada tried hard to save for the return a defeat by the minimum that keeps his second attempt to reach the final 51 years later. Neva tried Unai Simón in the 80 'for the first time, while the aids in defense of the visiting team ended up with Athletic's gasoline, although Aduriz touched the goal in his farewell to the Cup in La Catedral.
DATA SHEET.
– RESULT: ATHLETIC CLUB, 1 – GRANADA CF, 0. (1-0, at rest).
– ALIGNMENTS.
ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón; Capa, Yeray, Unai Nuñez, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Williams, Dani García (San José, min. 84), Vesga, Muniain and Raúl García (Aduriz, min. 67).
GRANADA CF: Rui Silva; Víctor Díaz, Germán, Duarte (Eteki, min. 85), Carlos Neva; Gonalons, Herrera, Puertas (Vallejo, min. 46), Carlos, Machís (Gil Dias, min. 71) and Soldier.
–GOAL:
1 – 0, min. 42, Muniain.
–ÁRBITRO: Hernández Hernández (C. Las Palmas). He admonished Dan García (min. 16), Williams (min. 29) and Aduriz (min. 67) by Athletic. And to Víctor Díaz (min. 29) and Soldier (min. 65) in Granada.
–ESTADIUM: San Mamés, 48,149 spectators.