Athletic Club’s aspirations for a top-four finish took a hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Granada in a tense LaLiga encounter at the Estadio San Mamés, according to Flashscore.
The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Athletic aimed to bolster their UEFA Champions League qualification bid against a struggling Granada side, who had lost 13 of their last 15 away league games. However, Granada stunned the hosts early on, with Gerard Gumbau's sixth-minute corner finding the net after a slight deflection from Iñaki Williams.
Despite the setback, Athletic responded swiftly, equalizing midway through the first half through Gorka Guruzeta, who capitalized on a loose ball parried by Granada goalkeeper Augusto Batalla. Guruzeta came close to adding a second but was denied by a goal-line clearance from Ignasi Miquel.
In the second half, Athletic intensified their pressure, with Yuri Berchiche and Yeray Álvarez going close to scoring. However, Granada's resolute defending frustrated the hosts, who struggled to find openings in the visitor's compact backline.
Despite numerous attempts, Athletic failed to find a breakthrough, epitomized by Iñaki Williams' missed opportunity late in the game. The draw leaves Athletic three points behind Atlético Madrid, with a crucial clash between the two sides looming large on April 27.
Check out how the Spanish Laliga Table looks like after the game below: