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Sancet when he scored Athletic’s first goal against Celta. Luis Tejido (EFE)
The first part was a roller coaster ride; the Dragon Khan, the second with a forced Celta and a dominant but weak Athletic at the back, which Iago Aspas took advantage of to sow panic among the central defenders. Before the quarter hour mark, the spirited Sky Blue captain had already faced Unai Simón twice, first with a cross shot that was intercepted by the goalkeeper and then when he took advantage of a defeat by Nico Williams to attempt a lob that went wide. But he was always there.
4
Unai Simón, Daniel Vivian, Aitor Paredes, De Marcos, Lekue, Vesga (Dani García, min. 68), Williams (Berenguer, min. 79), O. Sancet (Unai Gómez, min. 85), Nico Williams, Ruiz de Galarreta and Guruzeta (Raúl García, Min. 79)
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Guaita, Kevin Vázquez, Manu Sánchez, Carl Starfelt, Unai Núñez, Óscar Mingueza, Fran Beltrán (Luca De La Torre, Min. 68), Jonathan Bamba (Franco Cervi, Min. 83), Carlos Dotor, Jorgen Strand Larsen (Anastasios Douvikas ). , min. 89) and Aspas
Goals 0-1 min 25: Blades. 1-1 min 36: O. Sancet. 1-2 min 40: Jonathan Bamba. 2-2 min 50: Guruzeta. 3-2 mins 52: Guruzeta. 3-3 min 65: Jorgen Strand Larsen. 4-3 min 98: Berenguer.
referee Juan Luis Pulido Santana
Yellow cards Aspas (min. 38), Unai Simón (min. 56), Raúl García (min. 92) and Guaita (min. 94)
Nico was his reflection in the other area. After receiving the call from De la Fuente, he was seen active and always confronted Kevin who couldn’t handle him. He had the first chance for Red-White with his foot, but Guruzeta’s shot went wide. And in doing so, Aspas scored again, something he hadn’t managed since March, when, after causing trouble for Paredes, he shot with devilish effect from the edge of the penalty area, smashing the ball against the post and beating Unai.
The Celtic goal felt like a punch in the gut for Athletic. He fought off the penalty, tried to box out Celta, and with another attempt by little Williams, his cross was touched backwards by Starfelt, blocked by Vesga, and the ball fell to Sancet, who pushed it in to equalize. The people of Vigo protested en masse, but in vain. Aspas received a yellow card and was able to receive another one some time later after he fouled the referee in his team’s favor.
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To his relief and that of his team, there was no penalty as he ran forward from the free kick and his cross caused a stir in the penalty area, which was backed up by Bamba’s shot hitting the post.
Once again Celta were ahead, Athletic had to row against the tide and with five minutes of stoppage time expired, Nico Williams came down the wing again, headed into the penalty area and gave the ball to Guruzeta to push. Celta couldn’t even get a cross and went to the dressing room upset with a result they didn’t expect. Things were even worse for him in the second leg, as only six minutes of the second half had passed when Nico, who received a hard shot from, of all things, a corner, fended off Guaita and Guruzeta was there to score the sixth goal. since the start of the season.
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The football in San Mamés was crazy. Athletic pushed to extend their lead, with Nico always the focal point, but Valverde’s men were brimming with enthusiasm and, once the team had advanced far, they allowed Aspas’ counter-attack, culminating in an assist for Larsen to equalize. Three minutes later, a corner from Aspas ended up in the hands of Guruzeta. This time the VAR made the right decision for Celta. Penalty. Aspas launched the ball and Unai Simón flew into the post to prevent Celta from progressing.
At this point in the game, no one could have predicted what fate would bring. Athletic pushed until the end, Celta didn’t let themselves be dissuaded from the game either, and in stoppage time, after a tackle by Núñez on De Marcos, whom the referee didn’t want to see in the penalty area, they could no longer ignore Mingueza’s hand. With time already expired, Berenguer converted from eleven meters. Celta, the truth is, nothing comes of it.
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