The semi-final stage of the 2019/20 Copa del Rey is played over two legs and the 1st leg of both ties take place this week.
On Wednesday the 12th of February Athletic Bilbao host Granada at the San Mamés in Bilbao. It is the first time the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey have not featured either Barcelona or Real Madrid in 10 years.
Athletic Bilbao come into the match having lost 2-1 at rivals Real Sociedad on the weekend in La Liga. That result leaves them down in 9th place in the league and perhaps their best chance of qualifying for European football next season is to win this competition. That result was their second straight defeat in La Liga but sandwiched in between was an excellent 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey.
Trends show Athletic Bilbao have not been easy to beat in recent games and they have lost only two of their lost 12 matches in all competitions. However, all 5 of their latest victories have come in the Copa del Rey. Athletic Bilbao have defeated Intercity, Sestao River, Elche and Tenerife away from home plus Barcelona at home.
Athletic Bilbao have lost only 2 of their last 22 home games in all competitions and have a very strong record at the San Mamés. However, they have managed to win only one of their last 4 matches on home soil and will want to build on their victory over Barcelona in the previous round.
Granada also suffered defeat in La Liga on the weekend as they went down 1-0 away against Atletico Madrid. That result leaves them one place and one point behind their opponents but prior to the loss in La Liga on Saturday, Granada enjoyed 3 straight wins. The victories came away against Badajoz and at home against Valencia in the Copa del Rey plus at home to Espanyol in La Liga.
Granada do not have a particularly good away record, winning 4 of their last 12 away matches in all competitions. All 4 of those victories have come in the Copa del Rey and 3 of them have required extra time. Granada have defeated L'Hospitalet, Tamaraceite, Badalona and Badajoz on the road in the Copa del Rey this season.
However, this is set to be a tougher test as Granada have only won once at Athletic Bilbao since 2011.
Team news and Athletic Bilbao can call upon both Daniel García Carrillo and Iker Muniain whose suspension only relates to league games. Oscar De Marcos will miss out due to an ankle injury and there are doubts over the fitness of Raul Garcia and Yuri Berchiche.
Granada also have two players suspended from league action but Domingos Duarte and Roberto Soldado can both play in this game. Angel Montoro, Quini and Neyder Lozano are injured plus there are several players struggling for fitness.
Athletic Bilbao have held the upper hand over Granada, especially at home in recent times. This match should be no different and expect to see the hosts score a few goals on their way to victory in a competition they are now prioritising.
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