An elimination in a Cup semifinal is always difficult to assimilate. Athletic is coming off a two-game losing streak after winning many in a row. Last Tuesday in San Mamés against Osasuna was more painful than last Tuesday in Mestalla.
The same thing happened to Marcelino’s team in the return against Valencia as to Valverde’s in the first leg at El Sadar. Their respective teams do not know how to compete as the occasion demands. The rival achieved his goal without much joy.
It is also true that in the two editions before the last pair of lost semis, the lions fell on their heads. Along with Garitano, in Granada, they had less than ten minutes to go when Yuri, with a superb kick, signed the goal that would cost the final for double the amount of rival field goals in the event of a tie.
A year later, at Levante and with Marcelino as coach, the semifinal was decided in extra time after the end of 90 minutes of regulation in Bilbao and Valencia, with 1-1. Berenguer sealed that pass.
Last Tuesday’s elimination was, in any case, more painful than a year ago in the Mestalla because it was played in a full San Mamés, the team leveled the contest after half an hour and even managed to judge it for a long time before Ibáñez’s final goal.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
