Athletic down

The break for the World Cup in Qatar did not go well for Athletic in the League. The group of Valverde It has had relegation numbers since it returned to the competition on December 29 last year. The rojiblancos added only 9 points out of a possible 33 (27.2%) in the eleven matches of the regularity tournament played during this period of two and a half months, with 9 goals in favor and 13 against (-4 ). Almería and Elche added the same score, but with a worse goal difference, -9 in both cases. This is why they are behind in this partial ranking. The red lantern is occupied by Valencia, which collapsed in 2023 after achieving only seven units, including bank relief, Ruben Baraja through Gennaro Gattuso.

The rojiblancos returned to the League after the December holidays with a good draw in Benito Villamarín against Cádiz and the following day they managed to beat Osasuna if they were more accurate against the opposing goal, but they did not go from on the level to nothing. goal in San Mamés. Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Celta defeated the lions in the next three games. The match played in Balaídos was especially painful for the image offered.

The team continued the pulse with wins against Cádiz at home (4-1) and Valencia at home (1-2), but since then the baggage has been three defeats -Atlético (1-0), Girona (2-3) and Barça this past Sunday (0-1) in a clash in which the locals made merits at least for 1-1- and a tie, the visit to Rayo de Andoni Iraola also offers an improved image about the debacle among those of Michael, with two own goals and plenty of damage throughout the match. Two games won, three drawn and six lost. A very difficult balance for a team that has publicly set itself the goal of qualifying for Europe at the end of the season.

The general classification also reflects this streak. Athletic was fourth before the break for the World Cup in Qatar after beating Valladolid (3-0) on November 8, certainly its next rival Friday in Zorrilla, and now it is ninth. He has 24 points, the same as fifth (Atlético) and sixth (Betis) and two less than third (Real Sociedad). Now he has 33, five from sixth place which at the moment will allow him to play in the Conference next season and nine from fifth in the Europa League. The Champions League, a forbidden word in the way things are, is 12 away.

Villarreal, Rayo and Osasuna are also behind the lions. These three teams are now higher in the league table. The yellows are sixth, the Vallecanos are seventh and the rojillos are eighth. And from behind step on the heels of Mallorca, Celta and Girona. The Catalans can go level on points with the people of Bilbao if they beat Atlético on Monday at their pitch (0-1).

The contrast with the records achieved before the appointment in Qatar is very significant. Valverde’s team added 24 points from a possible 42, 57.1%, nothing to do with the subsequent percentage that made European qualification difficult with thirteen days left before the end of the League.