The Copa del Rey semi-finals will be completed this week as both second legs take place on Wednesday and Thursday. On Thursday the 5th of March we have a meeting between Granada and Athletic Bilbao which will take place at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes.
The first leg of this semi-final ended 1-0 in favour of Athletic Bilbao and therefore they come into this match with a slight advantage. With the away goals rule in effect, will the fact that Granada failed to score a goal in the first game come back to haunt them?
Granada come into the match having been held to a 0-0 draw at home by Celta Vigo in La Liga on the weekend. That result means they are now undefeated in their last 3 games in all competitions. Prior to the draw on the weekend Granada defeated Real Valladolid at home 2-1 and Osasuna away 3-0, both of which were in La Liga.
Home form shows they are undefeated in their last 5 games in all competitions. Granada have won 4 of those 5 matches including victories over Real Mallorca, Espanyol and Valencia. The win over Valencia was in the Copa del Rey and Granada have seen both teams score in 4 of their 6 matches in the competition this season.
However, only one of those games was played at home and that was the 2-1 victory over Valencia.
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Athletic Bilbao recorded a 1-0 win over Villarreal at home in La Liga on the weekend. That result leaves them in 10th place, one place and 3 points behind their upcoming opponents. The win was their first in 3 matches following defeats against Osasuna at home and Deportivo Alaves away, both in La Liga.
Despite losing 3 of their last 5 games in all competitions, Athletic Bilbao have not always been easy to beat and they have lost only 4 of their last 16 matches in all competitions. However, they have lost each of their last 2 away games both of which were in La Liga.
🏃🏃🏃🏃👀 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗔 🔥#BiziAmetsa 🏆 #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/y0pxrj11ze— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) March 2, 2020
🏃🏃🏃🏃👀 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗔 🔥#BiziAmetsa 🏆 #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/y0pxrj11ze
Athletic Bilbao have played 4 away matches in the Copa del Rey this season and they have required penalties to progress in each of the last 2. Athletic Bilbao were held to a 1-1 draw at Elche and a 3-3 draw at Tenerife.
Team news and Granada have 4 players unavailable for this game including Alejandro Martinez Sanchez, Angel Montoro, Quini and Neyder Lozano. Antonio Montoro and Yan Brice are doubts.
Athletic Bilbao can call upon both Ander and Unai Núñez despite their league suspension. However, Asier Villalibre Molina and Oscar De Marcos will miss out due to injury and there are doubts over the fitness of Mikel Balenziaga.
The first leg of this tie was very close and we expect more of the same in the 2nd leg. It could be a low scoring game but with both teams getting a goal and that would be enough to see Athletic Bilbao progress to the final.