Athletic pays for Nico’s physical loss

Ernesto Valverde He had no choice but to start the game without Nico Williams in the eleven. The winger suffered a bruise on his left ankle. Chosen by Txingurri Berenguer on the left wing of the attack and as usual the former Torino player played well. The 0-2 scoreline at the start of the second period forced Txingurri into action. The youngest of the siblings jumped onto the field Guruzetabut it cannot serve as a catalyst to even close the gap. Barça is better and will play in the Super Cup final.

The culés came out too focused on the pitch. Once we start, Raphinha a high shot was taken and soon First Simon He had to intervene the first time after a free kick from the Brazilian winger. The Murgia goalkeeper felt the trajectory of the ball.

After a quarter of an hour, the culé goal came with a good play on the left wing and Bilbao’s defense was not very strong. Balde went to the baseline and his death pass was finished by Gavi through the legs of the red and white goalkeeper, who couldn’t do much. On the next play, he had a scare from a goal kick that hit Lewandowski and almost went into his goal.

Amazingly, Athletic improved after 0-1. Inaki Williams and Berenguer They had two approaches. A mistake of Walls with the ball coming out it caused a double chance of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal very well destroyed by First Simonespecially in the first shot of Barça’s ’11’. Soon, the Alavés were helpful enough to leave the area when Lamine arrived. He’s also about to complicate his life with two-stage control over the threat of Raphinha a few meters away.

The first half ended with a double chance Inaki Williams. First with a lateral throw that went up and second with a shot that was forced Szczesny to perform a good intervention. There was a tie.

The situation worsened after passing through the locker room. Simon He was forced to block a shot from the Brazilian and soon the score was 0-2 due to a Bilbao error when the ball was taken. Inigo Martinez stole the ball, Gavi extended towards Lamine Yamal and the young Barça star did not disappoint in the one-on-one.

Valverde He moved the bench to close the gap. Then it was the turn of Nico Williams. The 22-year-old’s first intervention came seven minutes after leaving with a shot that was no problem for the culé goalkeeper. Disallowed goals arrive From Mark and Inaki Williams -the second for a small correlation of Djaló– but there is no time for more. Athletic paid for the absence of Nico for about an hour and then the winger could not serve as a stimulus, reduced by his bruised ankle.