This season, I’m looking for intrastories related to the day current Athletic players made their debuts. All of them, even now, have had time among the elite like lions, some more, some less. I think there may be attention-grabbing names related to each star’s premiere. The established order is the numbers.
Number 26 is from Álex Padilla. No number 25. Herrerín or Córdoba once had it, but this season no one. The goalkeeper, according to Athletic’s official website, can debut in the red and white team on November 27, 2023. Monday. It’s nine o’clock in the evening. Green. Unai Simón wore that color that night. Matchday 14 of the League this season.
The Zarautz goalkeeper made his debut with an official call-up for the first team against Girona. In Montilivi. This is a debut with a tie. 1-1. He is a substitute for a substitute. Valverde decided to travel with three goalkeepers: Simón, Agirrezabala and Padilla. He traveled as the third goalkeeper, which is an unusual occurrence, unless one of the two from the first team is suffering from some kind of discomfort.
Padilla assisted Iñaki Williams’ goal from the bench and a good version of Valverde’s team against the team, undoubtedly the revelation of the season. That night Girona only had one substitute goalkeeper, Fuidias.
Montilivi is the field where, for example, Andoni López, now at Ponferradina, and Iñigo Martínez debuted. The native of Ondarroa returned to San Mamés on Sunday. He suffered more whistles than I expected. Not that he achieved what he should have experienced when he returned to Anoeta with the Athletic shirt, but there was a response against the Barcelona player now.
Premiere in Mexico
Padilla, who was never called up to the first team again, played 21 games for Bilbao Athletic and played half of one of the friends who played Athletic in the preseason. It was a special date for him because it was in Mexico. He is the son, nephew and cousin of a Mexican family and spent the first seven years of his life in American lands.
The absence of Agirrezabala, who is still on vacation for the U21 European Championship, gave him such an honor. He played in the second half against Chivas Guadalajara and went between the sticks in the penalty shootout to determine the winner of the Gernika Tree trophy, but, unfortunately, he was unable to save any of the four thrown at him.
In the rest of the sport, on the day Padilla made his debut in an official call-up at Athletic, the death of Terry Venables was cover news of Mundo Deportivo with national circulation. The English coach gave them the League title after an 11-year drought and they reached the European Cup final. It was also highlighted that Bagnaia was declared the MotoGP world champion.
We already know the tradition of goalkeepers in Lezama. De Padilla, a Spanish international in the youth categories but could be recruited by Mexico, is also a big hope. Conditions it has. Key to Bilbao Athletic’s good performance. Ahead of him are Unai Simón and Agirrezabala. It will not be an easy road. It won’t be something from another Thursday.
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.
