Athletic faces tonight (21 hours against Levante) its third Cup semifinal at the new San Mamés. All of them, curiously, have a common denominator: the first leg. The lions, by the way, ended up qualifying for the final in their duels against Espanyol (2015) and Granada (2020).
Muniain is the only component of the current Athletic squad that served as a starter on both occasions. De Marcos entered the eleven of Valverde against the parrots, but he was not even summoned before the Nasrid team. Williams, on the other hand, was in the starting lineup against Granada, but against Espanyol he spent the whole game on the bench. Ibai, for his part, enjoyed ten minutes against the Catalans and was as a reserve against the Andalusians. Herrerín, finally, played under sticks in the first semifinal and was a substitute in the second.
Athletic de Valverde, coinciding curiously with February 11, he formed against Espanyol with Herrerín; Iraola (Ibai 80 '), Etxeita, Gurpegi, Aurtenetxe; San José, Beñat; Susaeta (Aketxe 67 '), Aduriz and Muniain (Viguera 67'). Iraizoz, Bustinza, Rico and Williams completed the list. That 2015 clash ended 1-1, with a Bilbao goal from Aduriz and Víctor Sánchez's parakeet.
Last season, on February 12, 2020, Gaizka Garitano
faced the visit of Granada with a defense of three centrals. Unai Simon; Capa, Nuñez, Yeray, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Dani García, Vesga; Williams, Raúl García and Muniain made up the rojiblanco starting eleven. Dani García left his place to San José in the 84th minute and Raúl García to Aduriz in the 67th). A lone goal from Muniain three minutes before the break gave the lions victory in this round of semifinals.
Nine of the eleven starters of that semifinal also point to the starting lineup today. The two novelties can be given by the presence of De Marcos and Vencedor instead of Nuñez and Vesga. Marcelino will end the doubt around eight in the afternoon.