Bad game by Athletic and that’s it

Bad game and that’s it. Athletic missed a great chance to get back into the Champions zone against Almería, the bottom of the Primera who have not won a Liga game and played with a man for less than half an hour of the game. Not even for those.

The lions did not have their night. They threatened a promising exit, but they slowly faded into a desperation I wanted and couldn’t. The Bilbao team did not give the game the rhythm that best suited them and ended up colliding with the local goalkeeper and a post, with a header from Raúl García, near the end. Things could have been worse, because at the end of regulation time, Marezi, after a good counterattack, hit the post that Unai Simón had already beaten.

Valverde didn’t get it right this time in the engine room. Vesga is far from his prime and Galarreta, who always leaves out details, is not the same as at the beginning of the season. The on-the-fly solution consisted of using another Muniain, Raúl García, Ander Herrera, Sancet and Adu Ares while Beñat Prados, the midfielder the team probably needed, spent the entire game on the bench.

This unfortunate draw to nil left the Bilbao team fifth in the table, two points away from fourth place, Atlético de Madrid. Betis, sixth in question, remains, however, eight points ahead. Not everything was negative last night.

Surprises at eleven

Garitano faced Athletic’s visit with four changes compared to the eleven that lost at Mestalla. The local coach was forced to bet on Edgar and Radovanovic as center backs with Baba and Robertone in the middle and Lozano up top.

Valverde also had to pull his squad due to the absences of Vivian, Nico Williams and Guruzeta. Yeray, Berenguer and Villalibre are the vacant places within a lineup with Vesga and Unai Gómez as new additions. Athletic pushed at the start, though nothing came into Maximiano’s frame. Almería also tried their luck from outside the area. The clash intensified even as the minutes passed. Villalibre and Paredes were the first to test the Portuguese goalkeeper and he responded successfully and effectively on both occasions. Choco Lozano was also on the verge of half-time, but he headed gently into the hands of Unai Simón.

The second half started with Muniain and Raúl García in the Bilbao eleven. Garitano also used the bank early, but he was forced. Lopi was injured and Melero took his place. It wasn’t the only setback for the locals, as Ramazani was sent off for a double warning after 53 minutes.

Valverde, in these circumstances, turned to Ander Herrera and Sancet at the same time. The local coach, for his part, introduced a change in every line trying to give oxygen to his team. The panorama had not changed a bit, so Adu Ares came to close the visiting carousel of changes. Raúl García had the winning goal in his head with a breath to spare, but his header hit the post.

The local response was immediate and finished in the same way, as the counter attack finished by Marezi went wide after bouncing off the woodwork. Maybe next time.

ALMERIA

00

athletic

Almeria: Maximian; Marc Pubill, Radovanovic, Édgar, Centelles (Bruno Langa 65′); Idrissu Baba, Lopy (Melero 47′); Arribas (Embarba 65′), Robertone, Ramazani and ‘Choco’ Lozano (Marezi 65′).

Athletic: First Simon; De Marcos, Yeray, Paredes, Yuri; Galarreta (Sancet 66′), Vesga (Ander Herrera 66′); Iñaki Williams, Unai Gómez (Muniain 46′), Berenguer (Adu Ares 73′) and Villalibre (Raúl García 46′).

Referee: García Verdura (Catalan Committee), Ramazani sent off for double warning (m.26 and m.52). Yellow to Marc Pubill (m.33) and the visitor Sancet (m.83);

Happenings: Match corresponding to day 24 of LaLiga EA Sports, played at the Power Horse Stadium in front of 12,863 spectators.

see the match sheet