Failures hurt Athletic against Real

Athletic did not pass the test in nine at Anoeta. The lions, who arrived in Donostia six points behind Real, lost to the San Sebastian team in a derby that would be marked, among other things, by a penalty from Yeray that included an expulsion allowing locals to judge an encounter they already have. on track.

The action between the rojiblanco center back and Take Kubo is something to talk about. This does not seem to be a maximum penalty, much less accompanied by a red. Oyarzabal, from the penalty spot, ended the game with half an hour left.

In Athletic, error or arbitration controversy on the sidelines, their own concessions were condemned in the Real Arena. The first goal came from an action where Nico Williams fell asleep against a more determined Zubeldia and De Marcos broke offside. The second, on Silva’s steal when Vesga left the ball. The third and final, a penalty on the side, on a backward pass from Nico Williams to a rival.

Yesterday was not a night for gifts. Unlike. It was a night to hit the table and said here is Athletic. It is true that the arbitration of the 3-1 action and the red card to Yeray could have hurt the Bilbao team, but in that time they have already made too many concessions.

Imanol faced the derby with a change in lineup compared to the previous day in Almería. Brais Méndez returned to his usual position as soon as his penalty was completed at the expense of Illarramendi. Sorloth, who had been a doubt for the past few days, arrived just in time to play the match.

a change

Valverde also introduced a variation. A somewhat dubious distinction, since Zarraga, sacrificed on this occasion, became one of the most prominent lions against Osasuna. So Dani García shared the double pivot with a Vesga who missed some training due to fever.

Equality was the dominant trend in the beginning. Both teams were strong in wide areas and hardly left the roads leading to their respective goals. Brais Méndez and Iñaki Williams were the first shots.

The crowd from San Sebastián, giving a greater sense of danger at all times, opened the scoring after a caste ball fought and won by Zubeldia against a confident and carefree Nico Williams Sorltoh , after Vivian and Yeray were eliminated, was sent to the rear. of the net. The 2-0 score came twelve minutes later after Silva stole the ball from a confident Vesga who Take, after hitting Vivian, finished with an accurate shot.

The reaction of the lions, when the panorama looked worse, did not wait. Nico Williams and Yuri worked down the left side and Sancet beat Remiro. The people of Bilbao saw some light again.

Athletic took a step forward at the start of the second half. La Real, with Oyarzabal in place of the injured Sorloth, didn’t even flinch. He followed his stuff.

Valverde, as the situation did not change, decided to withdraw Guruzeta to bring on Berenguer, sending Nico Williams on the right wing and his brother as center forward. There was no time to check the effectiveness of this change, because soon came the play that ended up deciding the derby.

Nico Williams, in another overconfidence, delayed a ball that Take Kubo took advantage of to plant himself in the area of ​​Unai Simón and fall inside the area amid a struggle with Yeray. The referee, close to the game, chose to award a maximum penalty and sent off the rojiblanco center-back. VAR was disallowed and Oyarzabal, true to his custom, beat Unai Simón from the penalty spot. Half an hour ahead, 3-1 match and one less.

Paredes and Zarraga arrived on stage shortly after and Muniain and Raúl García also arrived a few minutes later. The lions, despite everything, did not give up, but already had more heart than head. Reality bath in Anoeta.

true

3one

athletic

true: Remiro; Elustondo (Gorosabel, min. 76), Le Normand, Zubeldia, Rico; Zubimendi, Silva (Robert Navarro, min. 76), Merino, Brais (Illarramendi, min. 88); Sorloth (Oyarzabal, min. 48) and Take Kubo (Barrenetxea, min. 76).

Athletic: First Simon; From Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Vesga, Dani García (Zarraga, min. 65); Iñaki Williams (Raúl García, min. 76), Sancet (Paredes, min. 65), Nico Williams (Muniain, min. 76); and Guruzeta (Berenguer, min. 57).

Referee: Cuadra Fernández (Balearic Islands Committee). Direct red to Yeray Álvarez in the 60th minute as the last player for the penalty he inflicted on Kubo. He also advised Le Normand, Take Kubo, Sorloth, Zubeldia, Zubimenbi and Dani García.

the objectives: 0-1, min 24: Sorloth. 2-0 min. 36: Get Kubo. 2-1 min. 40: Sancet. 3-1 min. 61: Oyarzabal.

happenings: the Reale Arena sold out its tickets and 38,342 spectators gathered, a new attendance record with several hundred Athletic supporters.

see the match sheet