Valverde already knows what it is to win in Arrasate

The stats are there to break them down. Valverde did this saying yesterday at El Sadar. The now Athletic coach has never been able to beat a team led by Jagoba Arrasate in an official match.

Last night’s 0-2 at the rojillo stadium ended a streak of seven matches between teams of the same coach without a win for Txingurri. Neither at Athletic nor even at Barça, the gasteiztarra coach first imposed himself at Real and then at Osasuna de Arrasate. The five previous league clashes between them reflected two defeats and three draws for Valverde in the Liga and a draw and a defeat, resulting in elimination, in the semifinals of the last Cup.

The rivalry between the two coaches, therefore, reached a turning point yesterday. Athletic knew this time how to hit where it hurt most against Osasuna. The efficiency of their first arrivals, the sacrifice and defensive unity after the break and the excellent performance of Unai Simón did the rest.

change of scenery

The final League visit to El Sadar has three days left before the end of the championship. The rojillos had previously beaten the lions in the Cup final. Seventh place, with the possibility of finishing in a European position, was at stake on May 25 not so far away.

Arrasate yesterday presented a starting eleven with four variations compared to the one at the time. Rubén García, Moi Gómez, Mojica and Catena are the novelties and Aitor Fernández, Peña, David García, Torró, Moncayola, Aimar and Budimir are the repeaters.

Valverde’s changes, for his part, increased to five with the departure of that eleven of Agirrezabala, Yuri, Zarraga, Muniain and Berenguer and the entry of Unai Simón, Imanol, Galarreta, Sancet and Guruzeta. Repeating the Rojiblanco case are De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Vesga and the Williams brothers. That decisive match ended 2-0. Yesterday it was 0-2 with the debut of Beñat Prados.