The EuroGranada marathon: a match every four days

Granada is suffering the ravages of the requirement of its calendar. The Nasrid team is the one that has played the most games this season with 18 in the two and a half months that it has been in competition. A marathon marked by the three previous rounds of the Europa League that has had to play forcing Martínez's men to play matches at the highest level twice a week. On average, the rojiblanco team plays a duel every 4.4 days and that has postponed a Santander League match when it coincides with a match in Europe.

The demand is being noticed in the last games, where Martinez's men are noticing the overexertion and injuries. With up to six players in the infirmary, an outbreak of coronavirus involved with its forced quarantine and only rest in the weeks of stoppage for national teams, Granada has lived a black November in which only the light of the Europa League, where it remains undefeated and is one point away from the historic qualification for the round of 32, has given the positive note of a very tough month. Because, until now, the season was being honorary. Ten victories and three draws and four defeats sum in the 18 games played, of which three of those defeats have been in this month of November.

And the marathon is not over. An even more demanding month of December remains. Granada will play eight games in 30 days, that is, one game every 3.75 days, not having a week 'free' to give some rest. The Nasrids play the last two days of the group stage of the Europa League against PSV and PAOK, they have five league duels against Huesca, Elche, Betis, Real Madrid and Valencia, to end the year, and the first match of the Cup del Rey against San Juan. But the Nasrid do not complain. Upside down. Diego Martínez has repeated actively and passively in his press conferences that it is a dream to play in Europe and to be able to compete every three days, although that takes its toll.

“By playing so many games there are more risks of injury, contacts. But this is our reality. Even the best coaches in the world in the best teams in the world have also commented on it. It is a different football and we must adapt to this new reality,” he said in his last appearance. The truth is that injuries are leaving the team touched in various positions. He has suffered it on the right side, now in the midfield and even at the ends. Players like Neva, Rui Silva, Duarte, Yangel or Machís have hardly had breaks.