Athletic Club start season with a defeat in Granada

Athletic Club started their 2020-21 LaLiga Santander campaign with a 2-0 loss against Granada. 

The lions had the upper hand during several periods of the match, but Yangel Herrera and Luis Milla punished Athletic with two second-half goals. 

On a scorching hot evening in the Andalusian city, Athletic and Granada faced off for their first game of the season. 

In the first half, it was Athletic who seemed to have more spark to their play. The lions looked particularly dangerous down the wings, debutant Jon Morcillo was electric on the left and linked up well with powerful forward Raúl García.

However, they never managed to make opposition goalkeeper Rui Silva work for his money. Granada were most threatening from set-pieces and in the 44th minute they had a goal disallowed after Granada defender Germán fouled Raúl in the box. It was a physically strenuous first half and everything was left to play for in the second.

In the end, Athletic Club let the game slip when Herrera and Milla capitalised on two errors after the restart. Athletic had opportunities to get back into the match, first of all through Óscar de Marcos and then captain Iker Muniain. 

But the lions’ best chance of the night fell to striker Iñaki Williams, who hit the crossbar after getting on the end of a precise Morcillo cross.

Next week’s LaLiga fixture against Barcelona being suspended means Athletic have the perfect opportunity to get their heads down and put this loss behind them. 

Next up the lions have double friendlies against Sevilla before travelling to Eibar in LaLiga on September 27.