Athletic woke up early to eliminate Mallorca before the Cup

Athletic used strategic actions to win relatively comfortably against a Mallorca team that had just passed the first quarter of an hour and were already 2-0 down. Two set pieces by the lions allowed Yuri to beat Rajkovic on both occasions. The first has his back to the rival goal, protesting the vermillions for a potentially dangerous game, and the second to his right. Guruzeta and Muniain completed the victory in Bilbao just after half-time.

This victory, in any case, could be costly for the lions, as the Williams brothers had to be replaced in the second half due to physical problems. A real problem for Valverde ahead of the first leg of the Cup semi-finals against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano. That of Javier Aguirre, who also has a commitment in the KO tournament against Real, may depend more on the emotional aspect.

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Nothing went well for the Palma team in San Mamés. His proposal to stop exploded for the first time, the referee stopped seeing a clear penalty by Yuri on Raíllo with the score 1-0 and the VAR resolved in favor of the rival interests of the two of the weakest -suspicion game. The Bilbao team, without a great game, was practical and effective enough to put pressure on Atlético and Barça with their three new points through a win.

Valverde, after Cádiz’s massive rotation, used his usual block again, indicating seven changes compared to the Nuevo Mirandilla clash. Athletic thus appeared with only two variations on its usual eleven. Yeray came in for the hitherto uncapped Vivian and Galarreta, with his physical problems resolved, forming a double pivot with Beñat Prados.

Aguirre, who also came off the bench in the Liga at home against Betis a few days after Girona was knocked out of the KO tournament, made six changes in the game. Defenders Gio, Valjent and Raillo, midfielder Morlanes and forward Larín are the ‘repeaters’ within a 1-5-4-1 system. The bet for the Mexican coach soon fell apart.

The 3rd minute of the game ended when Yuri, with an acrobatic shot with his back to the goal, opened the scoring from a Nico Williams free kick. Mallorca, with every right in the world, immediately called for a penalty for a clear knock down by Athletic’s scorer Raillo inside the local area. The next arrival of the lions, in a new strategic action, ended again with a goal from Yuri. This time on the right, his bad leg, from a Nico Williams corner kick with Guruzeta’s initial takedown. The people from Bilbao, with hardly any ruffled feathers, won 2-0 after only the first quarter of an hour of play.

The Balearic team, despite everything, remained true to its proposal against a rival that hardly gave any options to get close to Unai Simón’s frame. Rajkovic, in fact, produced one of the saves of the night from Guruzeta’s impeccable header before the break.

Aguirre brought on Muriqi at the start of the second half and played a 4-4-2. A few minutes later, seeing that the outlook was deteriorating, far from improving, for his interests, he chose to admit Darder and Nacho Vidal at the same time. He had a great chance to reduce the gap, but he ended up in the hands of Unai Simón. The lions immediately took advantage of a counterattack to score their third goal. Guruzeta completed the action in a suspicious position which was confirmed by VAR.

Nico Williams, with pubic problems, was finally substituted, raising doubts about his physical condition ahead of the Metropolitano cup clash. Soon after, his brother Iñaki had to leave the farm, also showing signs of illness. Muniain, with a minute again, closed the red and white victory on the brink of the end.