In a very good season for Athletic, where almost all the lines of the game stand out for their good performance, the defense is probably the leg where the red and white team is most confused. Yeray’s return from his injury meant that the inexperienced Aitor Paredes and Dani Vivian had to take the center reins back for almost a day until the next. Although the quality and performance of the two have been less, the lack of minutes and experience means that the start of the season in the defensive area has been worrying.
Accustomed to the couple formed by Yeray and Iñigo Martínez, who rarely made mistakes and showed a very solid image, the young Vivian and Paredes had to adapt to the high demands of the competition by making mistakes, conceding a lot and placing a problem for the team on more than one occasion. Defensive fragility has lost games, and also overshadowed the work of the attacking lines, lines that have been very strong for most of the season.
Despite the negative start of the campaign in this regard, however, things improved. On the one hand, the center back’s commitment and dedication to the group cannot be denied. Both the man from Gasteiz and from Bilbao went out of their way for the team and left everything on the field for the colors. An impeccable attitude that, regardless of quality, always scores points.
Paredes played sneaky on more than one occasion to not let the team down despite his back problems. Additionally, he has already held four yellow cards, something that complicates his position.
Both footballers, on the other hand, greatly improved their performance compared to the first games. The accumulation of experience and minutes gave both of them an image of greater security and force that had a positive effect on the team. Now, all lines play row at the same time and it is noticed in the results.
Yeray’s return
Now, as soon as the ghosts are left behind, a new mystery appears to be solved. Yeray has recovered so it seems that his return is closer. His injury and a subsequent comeback kept him out of the game for about half a year, so his comeback was gradual. But, now that Vivian and Paredes have settled and the situation is good, can the Barakaldo player get back the ownership?
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
