Granada 0 - Atlético Madrid 1

Atlético Madrid got one step closer to their third cup final in a row with a single goal victory away at second division B side Granada. Atlético appeared in no less than five finals in the nineties, winning the cup in 1991, 1992 and 1996, but after their relegation to the second division last season they were not expected to progress so far in this year's competition. However after eliminating first division sides Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano, they got the lucky draw in this quarter final against the only third level team left in the competition. It was a return to the old glory days for Granada, a team that has played several seasons in the first division in their long history, and the excitement was such in the town that the Atlético coach almost didn't reach the ground in time. Marcos Alonso picked a side with three forwards Kiko, Correa and Salva in the starting line up, and Correa staked his claim for a place in the league side, first with a free kick against the bar in the fourth minute and then with the only goal of the game five minutes before half time with a shot from outside of the area, his eighth of the season in all competitions. Granada came close to scoring after the restart, Atlético's reserve keeper Sergio Sánchez blocking a shot from Huegun at close range, but Alonso responded by putting on another forward, new signing Dani, for Hugo Leal. After that it was all Atleti, with Salva and Kiko shooting just wide, and Granada's keeper Pindado saving from Roberto and Aguilera as Atlético looked for a bigger margin to take back to the Vicente Calderón. However in the end they had to make do with a single goal, which short of a disaster next week should in any case be enough to take them through. (31.01.01)