Athletic adds and continues the old continent. The red and white gave Elfsborg a good account on Thursday in the fifth round of the Europa League. Adam He opened the scoring early on a great strategic play that Nico Williams started and extended Guruzeta, Beñat Prados victory was restored in the run as half an hour of play was about to expire and Guruzeta He put the finish at the beginning of the second period after an assist from the first scorer, the best lion on the grass of San Mamés in his first European event. As a result, Valverde’s team added a fourth victory in the tournament after defeating AZ Alkmaar (2-0), Slavia Prague (1-0) and Ludogorets (1-2). Here we must add the good draw achieved at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on the first day, which served to gain confidence.
Thirteen points out of a possible fifteen reasons why Athletic are second best in the league and third in a hypothetical classification that includes the Champions and Europa League. This is even better than the Conference leader (Chelsea), a competition that has only been played for four days.
The best are Liverpool, who have fifteen points after being able to complete the first five games of the highest continental competition and second, Lazio, who have the same score as the lions but with a better goal difference (+9 against at + 7). The fourth is Inter Milan (Champions), also with +7 but with fewer goals scored (7). The top-5 will be completed by Frankfurt from the Europa League (13 points, +5).
The statistics that put the people of Bilbao in the lead do not end there. With only two goals conceded, Athletic are the fifth least scored. Inter have never had to collect the ball from inside their own goal, Liverpool, Atalanta and Aston Villa have only had to do so once and with the same records as the lions are Arsenal and Lazio.
No game lost
There are only eight teams unbeaten between the two competitions once the halfway point of the League Phase has passed before the playoffs. One of them is Athletic, which shares this condition with Liverpool, Inter and Atalanta in the Champions League and Lazio, Frankfurt, Galatasaray and Anderlecht one step below.
Those managed by Txingurri counted as victories in all the matches played in San Mamés, AZ, Slavia and Elfsborg, something that seven other teams in the European first division can say – Liverpool (three wins in as many matches played at Anfield), Inter (3-3), Barça (3-3), Bayern Munich (3-3), Borussia Dortmund (2-2), Bayer Leverkusen (2-2) and Arsenal (2-2 ) – and two from in the second -Galatasaray (3-3) and Ajax (2-2)-. Furthermore, they did not concede a single goal at home to complete an aggregate 6-0 under the watchful eyes of their fans.
Now, all in the League
Now it’s time to focus on the Liga, with three consecutive matches against Rayo in Vallecas and Real Madrid and Villarreal in San Mamés, and then comes the sixth European event of the season, the visit of Fenerbahçe hosted by Jose Mourinho (December 11). The Turks are fifteenth with eight points added, after two wins (Union Saint Guilloise at home and Slavia Prague away last Thursday), as many draws (Twente away and Manchester United in Istanbul) and one loss, the one was experienced against AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands. Then, there are only two games left to close the competition, the derbies against Alavés in Mendizorrotza and Osasuna and El Sadar, a match scheduled for Saturday, December 21, Saint Thomas Day.
Athletic is walking with a steady step in the 24-25 season. Fifth in the League after winning the ultimate rivalry match against Real and becoming part of the continental elite.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
