The sweetest defeat of Granada

The best Granada of all time added to his legend after a sweet defeat. They fell to PSV at home, but still qualified for the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League. The combination happened and the defeat of PAOK on Omonia’s ground pushed the rojiblancos to the next level. Malen’s goal in the first half hurt them, but in the second half they more than deserved the draw, which would have awarded them first place in group E mathematically. We will have to wait to see in what order this ends next Thursday, but the Nasrids already claim to be one of the passengers in this competition in February.

Losing the match cannot detract at all from a spectacular career in the second continental tournament. This access to the qualifying rounds has been cooked over low heat and with great effort, physically and mentally crushing a squad that has left their skin when sometimes they have not reached luck or talent. Checking how a whole PSV celebrated the victory like a feat, a club with ancestry that brought Romario and Ronaldo Nazario to Europe, exemplifies the respect as an adversary that this Granada has won. His miracles have become so daily that there was even contained euphoria on the local side, austerity without much merriment. On Sunday you have to play again on that same lawn with Huesca and it is advisable not to waste energy. The procession, smiling, goes inside.

There were no tests and Diego Martínez grabbed his most consolidated system from the beginning this season, the one that maintains three midfielders, with the majority of fans on the field. He fixed Vallejo on the right-hand side, a European variant, and kept Soro in the right zone, the coach still reluctant to start betting on Puertas after passing the Covid-19.

Without much preamble, in a few seconds PSV’s clear offensive intentions were verified. He came out to bite the whole of Eindhoven, harassing the attempts to build the premises. All his players appeared in the Nasrid sector. A decisive but somewhat reckless bet, as it could pay for Granada’s counterattacks.

From Nicosia came echoes of Omonia’s initial goal, which enabled the rojiblanca classification. Nothing altered the designs in Los Cármenes, with a PSV governor and some Nasrids pitching long and looking for races. The visitors began to compose in the vicinity of Rui Silva, with determined touches, first, contributing threats in the turns that destabilized the rear of Los Cármenes. Soon the two centrals, Germán and Domingos, were yellow, while Vallejo suffered on the sidebecause Max’s rises were atomic.

Malen, the opponent’s top scorer, began to live up to his fame with a shot that narrowly missed him. Machís tried to make a reply on the other side, looking for the interior corridor. He threw the bulge but the rejection was caught by Yangel, who connected with Vallejo so that Soldado could shoot frankly, but ultimately with external opposition. This had to be noted, some isolated heading in free kicks and a shot to Herrera’s post that was canceled by slightly pushing his pair.

Götze participated with a dropper but what he played, he always improved. He thrashed like a dancer against Germán in the action that cost the captain the card and Max threw a free kick too softly, as if it were a beach ball. The interventionism of the side was reflected in the action of the goal, taking advantage of the lack of protection of Soro, who did not follow him. With no one to block him, he found Malen’s insertion into the defense to put his team ahead. At the time, the PAOK balanced the matter with the Omonia, which still propelled the rojiblancos for the next phase, but already by less margin, dependent on the resistance of the Cypriots.

There was a lack of association in Granada, the attacks were badly basted and with too much intermittence inside, Gonalons quite wrong and Yangel dragging his feet, who has the reserve witness on. Without relays in the break, PSV campaigned with the same bearing in front of a few inspired locals, in need of a stimulus. The Dutch maneuvered to close a long symphony with a shot from Dumfries that sent corner Rui away.

Given the lack of ground, Diego wanted to accelerate the story with Foulquier and Luis Suárez, passing Vallejo to the central position. In the first one that had ‘Lobezno’ into the gap, he reached a divided ball with the goalkeeper and Dumfries in which there could be a penalty (There is no review in the UEL) but the referee pointed out that the Dutch side was run over. Just behind, Soldier was left with the desire to conclude.

It was enough for the helm to change hands. Granada adjusted better and Foulquier managed to enable Machís with a center, who seemed to push himself off a springboard, but the ball went high. He varied the mood, increased the intensity and gained confidence. Machís sharpened, Soldier raised the periscope and Yangel found an ideal shot that went to the stands.

Zahavi answered with a Chilean attempt, more aesthetic than forceful, and Herrera insisted on the other shore, suddenly as if he had been injected with kerosene. The hunger to win prevailed over the fatigue, but Mvogo also knows how to fly under sticks.

PSV asked for barracks, but Granada no longer gave a truce. Dumfríes was injured and Baumgarti entered. Zahavi left Vallejo’s elbow, but was left without punishment. It could end everything in a withering attack from PSV, but the ball went around the contour of Rui. With Jorge Molina for Milla the drawing changed to 4-4-2, although the danger was carried by Suárez and Machís, with a pass for the ‘vinotinto’ who stayed hand in hand with Dvogo. Instead of kicking, overwhelmed, he tried to feint and then look for the penalty before the goalkeeper’s stamina. The referee caught him in the deception and admonished him.

Neither did the Israeli Roi Reinshreiber see it about Roberto Soldado, who swore in Hebrew, because at the very least it was Baumgarti’s dangerous game. Diego removed him so that Puertas would appear. In full attempt, Omonia took advantage at the GSP Stadion, scoring precisely a Spaniard like Jordi Gómez from a penalty, pushing the rojiblancos to the hype with the 32 contenders for the title. They kept trying, because the tie gave them the leadership of the group, but there was no way. With ten points and a favorable external result it was enough. First place will be settled in Greece, a minor issue compared to the historical magnitude of such a feat. Everyone had reason to celebrate in Los Cármenes. The Dutch, for their triumph; the rojiblancos, with an emotional final group. “Congratulations to all, we are classified”, Diego Martínez communicated to his family with solemnity. Brave