Athletic's presence in the Europa League final on May 21 in San Mamés now goes through an impossible or almost. The lions have nothing more and nothing less to overcome in Old Trafford the 0-3 adverse of the semifinal's first leg against Manchester United played last week in San Mamés. The challenge brings them, but in the current Valverde template there is a player who knows what it is to move forward a similar situation.
Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta lived in the first person an experience like that. Not as a lion, but as a footballer then of Zaragoza. The Maño team, which as Athletic in the present edition of the Continental Tournament had lost 0-3 in the first leg, signed a historic comeback against Girona in Montilivi by winning by 1-4 and qualifying to dispute the final of the Play off of promotion to First against UD Las Palmas. Final, by the way, that he lost.
That cross dates back to the 2014-15 season. Galarreta arrived that campaign to Zaragoza after spending the previous season by the Mirandés after finishing his first stage as Athletic player. The team finished the regular league in sixth position of the table. Betis and Sporting de Gijón automatically amounted to proclaiming themselves first and second respectively. The third and final place to make the leap to the maximum division were disputed by the Play off Girona system, Las Palmas, Valladolid and Zaragoza. The Canaries ended up achieving the ascent after leaving the Pucelanos in the gutter and then to the maños.
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Example to follow
The great feat of that kind of semifinals league was in charge of Zaragoza. No one had the maños after 0-3 in the 'Semi' against Girona, but ended up tracing a overwhelming 1-4 victory in the return. Then they counted the marker goals away from home. Al Athletic, in other words, such a result in Old Trafford would force him to go to extension.
The Zaragoza managed to level the tie before the rest of the shock shucking played in Montilivi. William José, who would defend the T -shirt of the Real and Betis, among other clubs, opened the score in the 18th grade. The Brazilian striker himself signed 0-2 a quarter of an hour later. Leandro Cabrera, now Central of Espanyol, managed to match the tie to the edge of the break by marking 0-3. The Maños increased their advantage in 67 with a Diana from Fernández and Aday established the final 1-4 in the 73rd minute.
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Neither the Girona is United, nor that Zaragoza the current Athletic; But the truth is that there are examples that serve to show that a 0-3 in the first leg can be traced in the return as a visitor. Valverde counts in his ranks with a player, galarreta, who can attest to it. For trying not to go.
