Our prediction for this Copa del Rey match:
After eliminating the likes of Las Palmas and Eibar in the previous two rounds, Navalcarnero will be looking to give fans yet another reason for celebration when they take on Granada in the Copa del Rey last 16. The Segunda Division B side are a real force to be reckoned with at home, and they are surely capable of making life difficult for los Granadinos.
The Andalusians set up a meeting with Navalcarnero by beating Malaga in the local derby, but they experienced all sorts of problems at the back in the La Liga loss to Osasuna at the weekend. Since the Segunda Division B team are tough to beat at home, we are tempted to put our money on draw. Both Brice and Herrera return from domestic bans, while Lozano and Gonalons remain in the away team’s recovery room.
Highlighted Player (Roberto Soldado):
Roberto Soldado is regarded as one of the most famous footballers in the history of Villarreal. The meaning of his surname in Spanish is “the warrior” and it has to be noted that he began his football career at Real Madrid, playing from the B team between 2002 and 2006. The pacey attacker made 16 appearances and scored two goals for the first team, but he was producing the best performances of his career during his three-year spell at Valencia.
Soldado scored 59 goals in 101 appearances for los Che, but in 2013 he signed a deal with Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £26 million. The Spanish attacker, who was born on 27 May, 1985 in Valencia, scored for the Spurs on his debut in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, but he netted the goal from the penalty spot.
Soldado failed to impress in the 2014/2015 Premier League campaign with Tottenham and, as a result, he was sold to Villarreal on 14 August, 2015. Speaking of his international career, the Villarreal attacker made his Spain debut in June, 2007 against Latvia.
Highlighted Team (Granada):
Granada are an Andalusian football club that plays in Spanish La Liga. The club were founded on 14 April, 1931 and they have yet to win the Primera Division trophy. El Grana, though, booked their place in the Spanish Cup final in 1959, but Barcelona proved to be a big catch for the Andalusian outfit.
Granada host their rivals at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, the stadium that was built in 1995. The capacity of the stadium is 23,934. Granada’s main rivals are fellow Andalusian team Sevilla, but Real Betis are regarded as the club’s bitter rivals as well.
The likes of Yacine Brahimi, Juan Aguero, Gustavo Benitez, Pahinho, Denis Milar, Julio Montero Castillo, Capi, Cesar and Jose Mingorance are famous players that were part of the Estadio El Sadar outfit in the past. The original colour of Granada’s kits were blue and white, but after the Spanish Civil War the club chiefs bought new ones (red and white).