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An unleashed Athletic and with a better goal in the second half than in the first dissolved Simeone's Atlético suit. Superior from start to finish, the team prepared by Ernesto Valverde ended the events of the 125th anniversary of its founding in the best possible way, with a victory based on conviction, against whoever was his branch in the first years of the last century. History also counts.
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Unai Simón, Daniel Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri, Lekue, O. Sancet (Unai Gómez, min. 84), Benat Prados (Vesga, min. 76), Nico Williams (Berenguer, min. 90), Ander Herrera, Williams ( Mikel Jauregizar, min. 84) and Guruzeta
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Oblak, Mario Hermoso, Soyuncu (Giménez, Min. 45), Witsel, Marcos Llorente, Nahuel Molina (De Paul, Min. 45), Samuel Lino, Koke, Saúl (Depay, Min. 59), Griezmann (Correa, Min. 59) and Morata (Azpilicueta, Min. 66)
Goals 1-0 min 51: Guruzeta. 2:0 minutes. 64: Nico Williams.
referee Jesus Gil Manzano
Yellow cards from Paul (min. 49)
Atlético de Madrid arrived alive at halftime in San Mamés and that is the best that can be said about the first 45 minutes against Athletic, which handled the game at will against a hesitant rival who stretched little and without much conviction. more timid than ever and who let the Bilbao team do too much, operating from midfield, driven by the veteran Ander Herrera and the new Beñat Prados, dynamic and aggressive when it came to stealing the ball.
Under these conditions, Sancet enjoyed turning around and looking at the surroundings, or opening up to the wings through which the Williams circulated. Athletic got off to a good start but failed to score from the start, despite having plenty of chances to beat Oblak, who had to stretch for the first time after five minutes to keep out Guruzeta's shot off the post after Sancet's assist.
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Athletic maintained the intensity and tried to reduce the Colchoneros' central defenders by touching the ball between them without finding a way out. The possession statistics at the end of the first half were more than misleading. The numbers said Atlético had the ball 62% of the time, but Athletic were the only ones to make a suggestion. Iñaki Williams hit the post with a shot that Oblak missed; Then the goalkeeper reacted to Guruzeta's close-range shot at Nico's bike, and before he reached the halfway point of the first period, Nico ran away and smashed the ball into Oblak's body.
There was hardly any news about Griezmann or Morata. Only sometimes did Llorente show himself on his side, and in the meantime Athletic continued to accumulate chances, the most obvious after a penalty from Soyuncu to Nico Williams, which Sancet missed due to the commotion in the stands, who saw that the goal was not achieved. Nico hit the post like his brother when Oblak was beaten and Sancet completed a combination between Guruzeta and Iñaki. Valverde tore his hair out looking for an explanation; Simeone is trying to find a way forward for the second half.
But it was Athletic who looked for him and finally found him five minutes after returning from the break. After a corner, the ball reached Herrera on the edge of the penalty area and his assist was saved by Guruzeta a step in front of the goal. He has already scored eight goals in the league and counting, because his work is invaluable to the play of his teammates.
Rahm takes the kickoff. Basque golfer Jon Rahm receives the kick of honor before the game. The one from Barrika did not wear Augusta's green jacket, which did not allow him to wear it in San Mamés. In return, he used a replica of the black T-shirt that José Ángel Iribar wore in his career.Juan Manuel Serrano Arce (Getty Images)
With the result in their favour, Athletic didn't give up and the mattress game continued just as silly. Simeone had removed Molina and Soyuncu at half-time for a reaction, and also replaced Griezmann and Saúl after the Bilbao goal, but they had only been on the field for a few minutes when Nico Williams created a work of art on the right wing . As he entered the penalty area, he made his way, broke away and fired a shot with a screw that slid into the opponent's corner. Not even the best Oblak could prevent this.
Although after the second goal the intensity on the ground dropped a few points because it was Atlético's turn to clean up the mess, Iñaki still had the opportunity to test Oblak, who avoided the third goal. Later, when everything was against them, Simeone's men wanted to solve the puzzle that Athletic had created. Marcos Llorente was the one most interested in the task. Unai Simón shot from almost zero angle, which was the guests' best chance. Afterwards, San Mamés enjoyed its anniversary events, everyone was happy.
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