Athletic is down to work

If you start crying now about this game, you won’t get it in the next game. “Everything goes on and on.” Nothing more said and done. Valverde and his team worked after the previous day’s 3-0 defeat in the Anoeta derby and closed their participation in this game, the ninth championship of the league, with a victory in the same result against the lowest team Almería in San Mamés.

There are many significant differences and some similarities, yes, between one promise and another. La Real showed in the derby held in the San Sebastian fiefdom that they are more of a team than the Indálico team. Nothing was unknown before, because since the Andalusians now have no coach, they don’t have a coach. Passing by Lasarte, the coach sitting on the bench in the Bilbao camp on Friday.

From a pure red and white perspective, the big difference between the rivalry against Almería and the previous one against Real lies in the strength in the areas. The lions, this time, defended the well-protected goal of Unai Simón. Back concessions are conspicuous this time by their absence.

Scoring effectiveness has also increased significantly, although not enough to show that Athletic have once again failed in front of goal more than necessary. The lack of success at the end led to the defeat in the derby. Against the bottom team the problem was not so serious, because in the end the lions scored three goals, but with nothing but a little goal, inspiration or collective meaning for Maximiano, the visiting goalkeeper, they could have scored seven.

Other details to consider

The field and even the environmental factor, logically, also played in Athletic’s favor this time. San Mamés nights are always San Mamés nights no matter what day of the week it is. This past Friday, in an event set for 9 pm, more than half a thousand more spectators gathered at the Bilbao stadium (43,677) than the previous home match, held on Wednesday at 7 pm, against Getafe (43,091). .

Jon Uriarte’s board, whatever they are, put special emphasis on their idea that the rojiblanco field presents the best possible entry each day. His insistence on transfer cards and similar initiatives is well known. Just yesterday, for example, it was announced on the club’s official website that Club Athletic supporters can now purchase, on a preferential basis, tickets for the clash against Valencia to be played on Sunday, October 29, at 6 :30 pm, in San Mamés.

Valverde, who has returned to pure footballing level, faced the challenge against the bottom of the table with almost the same players he put into battle a few days before at the Reale Arena. The only starting change consisted of the return to the eleven of Sancet, who was suspended for the derby, for Muniain. Then, for the first time, the Gasteiz coach was forced to remove Yeray, injured, to bring on Paredes, a regular starter until the aforementioned clash against Real.

Unai Simón, unlike Anoeta, was another spectator at San Mamés on this occasion. The defensive line consisting of De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes and Yuri is more forceful and effective. Full-backs also do attacking damage with their lifts and lateral crosses.

Dani García and Ander Herrera, again at the controls, repeated the double pivot. Both maintain a high level of efficiency and even appear against the rival goal. One from Zumarraga even scored his first goal as a lion with a header from a measured cross from De Marcos. The Bilbao native, however, ran into the post.

Athletic’s move from the center of the field forward was simply a sight to behold. Sancet made some trademark plays, as did Nico Williams, Guruzeta again showed his creative instincts and Iñaki Williams did his job, although the desire to score his goal prevented him from excel in other aspects.