Athletic is facing a new decisive appointment in its most recent history. The rojiblancos will play today in La Cartuja their third final of the year, the second in the Cup in a row, with the aim of finally winning the KO tournament, which has been resisting for 37 years.
The rojiblancos are facing a second chance to lift the trophy after losing on April 3 to Real on the same stage (9:30 p.m., with arbitration by the Valencian Martinez
Munuera). That defeat left the team very touched, but in this period there has been time to get up psychologically to face the match tonight in the proper conditions.
Nobody doubts that the company is complicated, but the rojiblanco team could already with the Catalans in the final of the Super Cup played on April 17. Then, the lions were forced to equal up to two times the goals scored by Griezmann. From
frames scored 1-1 and Villalibre forced extra time in the 90th minute. Williams he made the final 2-3 at the beginning of extra time to bring the title for Bilbao.
The azulgrana team has improved since then, but if the lions want to have options, this must be the way, playing with the solidity and daring of then, two virtues that have been lost in recent matches.
Marcelino endowed the team with enough wickers to compete against any rival. As soon as he arrived, he won the Super Cup after eliminating Real Madrid in the semifinals and winning the decisive match against the Catalans. Afterwards, the team went through KO rounds based on comebacks, something that their rival can also boast tonight.
Both teams have reached the decisive appointment today in La Cartuja based on comebacks
The lions have had to turn the scoreboard all the way back, against Ibiza, Alcoyano, Betis to tie at one and force extra time and the penalty shoot-out, and in the two semis games against Levante. Berenguer made of Yuri
Berchiche, the hero of the 2019-20 tournament, and scored the goal of the ticket to the final at the Ciutat de València.
For its part, Barcelona, after breaking a sweat in their first appearance against the modest Cornellà, whom they won in extra time (0-2), continued in agonizing mode turning the scoreboard against Rayo (1-2), Granada (3 -5) and Sevilla (2-0, 3-0). In Los Cármenes they lost 2-0 in the 87th minute and in the semis they were eliminated in the 93rd minute of the second leg played at the Camp Nou. Pique sent the game to extra time and Braithwaite completed the 3-0.
Precisely, the Catalan central is the great doubt in the eleven of Koeman. Araujo, Lenglet Y Mingueza they are the other aspirants to occupy the axis of the rear. The other unknown is the game system that the Dutch coach will use: 3-5-2 or 4-3-3.
MarcelinoFor his part, he has three doubts in his team to complete the usual 4-4-2. Yeray Y Berchiche they were injured in the league match played in Anoeta. The two defenders have trained with the group in recent training sessions, but it remains to be seen if the Asturian can definitely count on them. The other unknown is Iker
Muniain. The one from Txantrea limped off the bus that took the team to Loiu airport. He only suffers slight discomfort and it seems that he could start from the beginning, but there is always the question if he is at 100% for a commitment of this level. The technician assured yesterday before training that in principle he had everyone, but he left everything open to the last work session.
Seville will host the clash between the two kings of the Cup. Barça has 30 winged players, by 24 of the people from Bilbao. For the culés it would be the first title of the era Koeman after two years of drought in a club used to winning, especially since Messi made an appearance in professional football. And for the rojiblancos it would be to compensate for the bad taste in their mouths that the defeat with Real left and above all to win a great title 37 years later.