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Ceramics had never been good for Athletic. Furthermore, Ernesto Valverde’s team showed a very simple performance in their last games away from the Cathedral. But within half an hour he dispelled all fears with a barrage of goals (0-3). A therapeutic first half for a team that needs to take a place in European competition, leaving Villarreal in fifth place, easing their fears. Their rival, who responded with two insufficient goals in the final minutes, still cannot identify themselves.
2
Jorgensen, Carlos Romero, Matteo Gabbia (Mandi, Min. 45), Adrià Altimira (Kiko Femenía, Min. 64), Albiol, Capoue, Parejo (Ramón Terrats, Min. 64), Álex Baena, Ilias Chakkour (Jorge Pascual, Min . 77), Gerard Moreno and Sörloth
3
Unai Simón, Lekue, Daniel Vivian, Aitor Paredes, De Marcos, Ruiz de Galarreta (Dani García, min. 76), Nico Williams (Unai Gómez, min. 76), Vesga, Williams (Villalibre, min. 85), O. Sancet (Muniain, Min. 85) and Guruzeta (Berenguer, Min. 66)
Goals 0-1 min 1: Ruiz de Galarreta. 0-2 min 22: Nico Williams. 0-3 min 29: Williams. 1-3 min 86: Gerard Moreno. 2-3 min. 87: Sörloth.
referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez
Yellow cards Matteo Gabbia (min. 18), Nico Williams (min. 41), De Marcos (min. 43), Albiol (min. 72), Mandi (min. 74), Kiko Femenía (min. 75), Dani García (min. 88) and Ruiz de Galarreta (min. 91)
It took less than a hundred seconds for Athletic to score their first goal. Galarreta controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty area 90 seconds into the game and turned it into a rocket that sent it into the corner of Jörgensen’s goal. Galarreta, a 30-year-old footballer, finally makes his debut in the First Division. He had never scored a goal and his last goal, more than four years ago, came in the second division with Las Palmas.
The Lions were clear that they could not suffer another setback that would complicate their plans to play in Europe. Their expectations were at stake and they didn’t let up. The Basque team did not want to engage in fruitless combinations around the penalty area and tried their luck by shooting from outside the penalty area as soon as they saw an opening. Quite the opposite for Villarreal, as Gerard Moreno demonstrated with a fantastic vertical pass behind the defense, which Sørloth wasted in front of Unai Simón with a shot that licked the post.
Athletic’s three long shots were like a mistake from a grenade launcher. A trick to change the rule in the next attack when Nico Williams stole the ball from Parejo, advanced and passed it to Sancet to play one on one with Jörgensen. When it looked like the Navarrese was going to shoot, he gave the gift back to the youngest Williams so he could put the ball into the net.
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A throwback player Villarreal has not learned from its mistakes. Their defense froze again after half an hour of play. Iñaki Williams smelled the blood and stuck out his fang to score the third goal. Athletic trampled their opponents and was unable to contain the Basques’ offensives. Villarreal bled on the wings, where the Williams brothers came into play with ease. Athletic had very clear ideas and the opposition helped.
Some fans were cruel to Parejo, a misunderstood artist at La Cerámica, while the other half of the fans tried to respond to their orchestra director with applause. Villarreal tried to gain some breathing room before the break with two dangerous moves: a goal from Sørloth that was disallowed for offside and a powerful shot from Gerard Moreno that deflected off Unai Simón.
The victory stung and the whistles sounded again at halftime, an extended version for the entire yellow block. The protest was reason enough for Villarreal to begin searching for an unlikely comeback. His ambition didn’t translate into goals (at least initially), although he had opportunities to score. The first attempt was wasted by Sørloth, who met Unai Simón again. The second was a shot from Baena that hit the post. Gerard Moreno did not give in to the rush and moved his team in an academic manner, looking for the gaps that Bilbao’s defense offered.
Villarreal’s attitude improved in the second half, but his effectiveness did not. Until the 84th minute came and the team went crazy with Gerard Moreno, the best in his team, who scored the first goal and placed a precise cross so that Sørloth scored with a header to make it 2-3, which left the crowd in disbelief.
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