Athletic Bilbao vs Granada Prediction & Betting Tips - Copa del Rey

Prediction published on 10/02/2020, 06:40  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/02/2020 at 07:40 in Football Predictions

The 2019/20 Copa del Rey has been one full of surprises. Athletic Bilbao knocked out Barcelona last week and host Granada in the first leg of the semi-final. The winners of this tie take on either Real Sociedad (the highest placed La Liga side left and they're sixth) or La Liga II side Mirandes. Bilbao are currently ninth in La Liga but could do with transferring their cup form to the league. They have no wins in their last eight league games and at the weekend lost away at Real Sociedad in what could be a dress rehearsal for the final of this competition. It hasn't been easy going for them in the cup with penalty shoot-outs needed to get past both Elche and Tenerife. They trailed three times in the cup tie at Tenerife. Then last week, they beat Barcelona 1-0 thanks to a last minute own goal. Bilbao beat Granada 2-0 at home in early December and will want to repeat that kind of scoreline in this game.

Granada have had an interesting first season back in La Liga. They showed good early form to be right up at the top of the table and then went on a long slide down the league. They are currently tenth in the table and lost 1-0 at Atletico Madrid at the weekend. That loss was their eighth away loss in 12 league games with just two wins. In the Copa del Rey, Granada have had wins over four lower-league sides but three needed extra time. The quarter final saw them get a 2-1 home win over Valencia winning the tie with a 90th minute penalty. A bet on a home win should be a profitable one in this game.