yesand the Valencia wants to get to cup final must do, among others, heal yourself in health with motivation bonus from a player who has hurt you throughout your career. It is about by Raul Garcia. He is the man of the tie. The key player. One of those footballers who has stood out the most against Valencia in the last 15 years.
He has scored goals against him in the League, in Europe… and in the Cup. It’s the player. It’s the nightmare. The man to watch out for in this second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Because it has been again in this sleeve. Was the author of Athletic’s goal in the first leg played in San Mamés. Again. He is always there. Valencia has been and is his particular obsession and the truth is that the numbers confirm this. The moment, the field, the situation and circumstances did not matter. The fact is that Valencia is made to measure for the veteran Navarrese midfielder.
These are the data that confirm that it is the ‘key man’ of the tie:
1. The rival against whom he has played the most in his career: 38 games
There is no other. And that does not mean that by statistics he had to be the best in the personal chapter. No. It is that the numbers endorse it. Ha played 30 league games (the most for the 28 against Getafe). you have been followed four in the Europa League, between Athletic and Atlético de Madrid. And he already has four Cup with the same teams. Although this will be the fifth time around the KO. In a decisive match. The price to a final.
2. He has scored goals against him in all competitions
It is in the top -5 of the 35-year-old midfielder’s favorite teams. Sum six goals in the league tournament although it has marked Villarreal and Getafe more, for example. But with Valencia he has always had a very particular ‘idyll’. He has been at ease on the field and has endorsed it with goals.
On Europe has scored a goal. Also decisive. In the Europe League with Athletic in 2015-16. Transcendental goal in San Mamés. key to pass
Europa League qualifier 2015-26 in San Mamés. /BRAND
On Cup he has done it with Athletic, for example, in the first leg of this current leg. And with Atlético. In four cup matches he has scored in three. Another factor to take into account.
3. His goals serve to win rounds
He has done it with Athletic and with him Athletic in Europe. His goals have always had a positive influence on his team and at the moment he is being one of the characters in this tie after scoring the Bilbao goal in the 1-1 first leg.
4. His goal predominates in Mestalla: six of 10
Of the ten goals that he has scored throughout his career in all three competitions who has disputed against the Valencianists the trend of away goals predominates. In other words, he scores more goals in Mestalla than at home. And it is another factor in this tie. Of his ten goals against Valencia, six have been as a foreigner. Having Mestalla as an adversary. A field that motivates him for his adversity and that responds. That makes Raul Garcia doubly dangerous. He is the man of the match.
Did you know…?
Raul Garcia emerged in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century in Osasuna. A complete midfielder and the Valencia was in the fight. That Valencia of Quique Flores fell in love with this midfielder which at that time had barely 20 years old. She was at the negotiating table but there was no way to convince Osasuna…and eventually became part of an operation with the Atletico Madrid.
