Athletic went down in the Cup with their heads held high

Agur in the Queen’s Cup, but with his head held high. Athletic tried head-to-head yesterday against mighty Barça despite a poor result from San Mamés and an early goal conceded by Mariona’s Johan Cruyff. The lions didn’t even throw in the towel because of that. The blaugranas will have to run harder than ever this time to try to keep the ball away from the red and white.

Clara Pinedo leveled the contest in the second half, Maddi hit the crossbar a few minutes later and the local struck again, this time on the boot of Patri, to decide the clash, not the tie that had been the case since Going. Good game, in any case, by David Aznar in an unbeatable setting. Mission impossible yes, but because of what happened a week before in Botxo.

Giráldez used rotations to face the visit of Athletic. Barça, true to its system, is a very recognizable team despite the many changes introduced. The blaugranas started with a 0-3 advantage from the first leg.

Changes in red and white

Aznar’s starting eleven was better known. The rojiblanco coach did not make many changes. Quiñones worked between the sticks, Itxaso regained his position in the wide zone after serving the sanction that prevented him from playing in Bilbao and Zugasti joined Azkona at the point of attack. The Lions again stood out with a defense consisting of three centre-backs.

Athletic’s performance is very promising. Bilbao players handled the ball with sense, tried to create long possessions and even peeked into Paños’ domain. Indeed, Azkona had the first clear chance to open the scoring, but he failed to direct his header. Nerea Nevado, the author of the excellent pass to Navarrese, made a big mistake shortly after allowing Mariona to beat Quiñones for the second around the 19th minute.

Barça began to impose its law from then on against a Bilbao team that gave space and the ball. Pinedo, after some good interventions by Quiñones, still had a chance to equalize before the break. Athletic, with a triple simultaneous substitution in the 56th minute, improved on the return from the locker room and forced the Blaugrana to run after the ball more than they are used to. Bilbao’s good work was rewarded with the tying goal, a great goal, the work of Pinedo.

Giráldez immediately released drawings, introducing Alexia and Rolfo, among others. Bilbao’s persistence resulted in a ball hitting the crossbar from Maddi, but what could have been 1-2 became 2-1 with a placed shot from Patri. The lions, however, did not give up and were on the verge of a tie through Elexpur.

BARCELONA

21

athletic

Barça: Clothing; Bronze (Rolfo 66′), Marta, Engen, Batlle; Aitana, Patri, Pina (Alexia 66′); Bruna (Dragoni 66′), Mariona (Vicky López 78′) and Paralluelo (Brugts 78′).
The
TheAthletic: Quiñones; Elexpuru, Landaluze (Zubieta 81′), Maddi, Bibi, Nerea Nevado (Gara 56′); Mariana, Itxaso (Oguiza 56′), Pinedo; Zugasti (Jone Amezaga 78′) and Azkona (Sanadri 56′).
The
TheThe objectives: 1-0: min. 19, Marion. 1-1: min. 63, Pinedo. 2-1: 72, Patri.
The
TheSpectators: 5,225 people at Johan Cruyff.

referee: Zulema González González (Galician Committee). He advises Itxaso and Brugts.

see the match sheet