The story of the never ending Athletic

Athletic’s bad streak in its visits to Barça remains intact. Yesterday was another defeat in the long list of League matches lost by the lions in the Barça fiefdom. You can’t say anything but Hansi Flick’s team won because they were superior for most of the match.

Valverde’s team arrived at Montjuïc with their third kit. A kit, at first glance purple, defined by its designers as “the lavender and pink colors of rare sunsets over the city.” Some football players from the Bilbao team should be touched when they don’t go on the pitch wearing the usual red and white with black pants. Common colors, those of a brave team, with caste, with resources.

Yesterday was a bit disappointing. The Bilbao team at the start of the campaign did not look even remotely similar to last season. Yesterday, in many stages of the clash against the Blaugrana, it seemed that the rival was stronger and more complete on a physical level.

The thing about coaches, it’s true, is sometimes hard to understand. Almost all coaches attach great importance to the work done during the preseason and this past Saturday, on a hot afternoon in Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ minutes to work. Vivian did this on Monday of last week. Nico Williams, seven days earlier.

Athletic’s sought-after international winger explained while he has fresh legs and a mind the reason for his high level. His displays on the wing, as well as that of Lamine Yamal on his side, created uncertainty and danger in the opposition area. The problem with little Williams, and by extension the rest of the team, is that no one depends on him.

Valverde wanted to intimidate Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez with the presence of Iñaki Williams as a center forward, but the bet turned out to be unsuccessful. The oldest of the brothers had almost no options to run. They did not leave him any space and the Barça defense, especially regarding the Ondarutarra center-back, knew how to block him without any major complications. Sancet’s presence no longer lasted and Berenguer, as usual, waged war alone.

Hauling

In addition to the two internationals, Lekue is another new addition to Athletic’s starting eleven. The Bilbao defender played this time in his natural position, although he suffered more than necessary and was also uninspired in the offensive aspect. To make matters worse, he also unintentionally contributed to the 1-0 scoreline, as the ball thrown by Lamine Yamal from outside the area slipped into Padilla’s goal after hitting his head first.

Bilbao Athletic’s goalkeeper, with Unai Simón injured and Agirrezabala on the bench, was again at a good level. Like against Getafe. Between him and the posts they seemed determined to make Lewandowski’s afternoon bitter, but the Poland striker arrived just in time to finish the contest. The veteran Barça striker took Vivian and Yeray, former Athletic centre-backs, down the road of bitterness. The work in the midfield of Prados and Vesga did not make the task easier for both of them when it came to containing the rival.

Before the goal of the current top scorer of LaLiga, Berenguer, who always tries, was the target of a penalty that Sancet, the intermittent Sancet, converted into the goal of the provisional tie. The Lions seemed to hold onto that lone goal for most of the second half. In the attack, with Nico already dissolved, Ter Stegen became a mere spectator. Padilla no. The Zarautz goalkeeper was constantly attacked by land, sea and air.

And what is football. In an action where he didn’t need to put his hand to clear a lateral cross, Padilla did so and left the ball at the feet of Lewandowski, who was unforgiving. By then Valverde had used the services of Jauregizar and Unai Simón from Bermeo and an increasingly confused Adu Ares. The courage of the first two contrasts with the coldness and apparent indifference of the forward.

Ander Herrera and Guruzeta were the Gasteiz coach’s last bets, but by then Barça had got what they were looking for and needed. Athletic, from what we have seen, continues its preseason. And on Wednesday Valencia came and on Saturday Atlético came.

BARCELONA

21

ATHLETIC

Barça: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde (Gerard Martín 91); Pedri, Marc Bernal (Eric García 83), Rapinha; Lamine Yamal (Pau Víctor 91′), Lewandowski and Ferran (Fermín 63′).
The
TheAthletic: Padilla; Lekue, Yeray, Vivian, Yuri; Prados (Ander Herrera 78′), Vesga (Jauregizar 63′); Berenguer (Adu Ares 72′), Sancet (Unai Gómez 63′), Nico Williams; and Iñaki Williams (Guruzeta 78′).
The
TheObjectives: 1-0: min. 24, Lamine Yamal. 1-1: min. 41, Sancet, penalty. 2-1: min. 75, Lewandowski.

Referee: Gil Manzano. He advised Yeray, Berenguer, Lekue, Jauregizar, Lewandowski, Cubarsí, Marc Bernal and Fermín

stadium: 46,488 spectators at Montjuïc​.

see the match sheet