With a goal disallowed for UD Las Palmas, Athletic won the match and sets its sights on the Champions League
Athletic Club forward Iñaki Williams (l) escapes from Mika Mármol, from UD Las Palmas, during a match corresponding to matchday 28 in LaLiga EA Sports played this Sunday between UD Las Palmas and Athletic Club at the stadium in Gran Canaria in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. EFE
He Athletic Club won this Sunday at OUT Las Palmas at the Gran Canaria Stadium (0-2) in a very complete match for the Biscayan team, who got back on track in the first half with a goal from Gorka Guruzeta in the 31st minute, and certified after the break after an own goal by the local defender Saul Coco in the 66th minute, after a corner.
The team trained by Ernesto Valverdevery solid, thus corrects its deficit as a visitor – it had not won away from home since last January 4 – and adds three important points that allow it to qualify for a Champions League place, after Atlético de Madrid’s Saturday setback against Cádiz , while Las Palmas sees its dream of competing for sixth European place receding.
The Basque team, brand new finalists in the Copa del Rey, held nothing back and presented a very recognizable starting eleven. And the surprising defeat of Atlético de Madrid has opened the door to a Champions League spot for those of Ernesto Valverdejust two points behind the ‘colchoneros’.
José Campaña’s first time in the starting eleven
In the Canary Islands team the big news was the presence of the midfielder in the starting eleven for the first time. José Campañathe only signing for this second round of the championship, and also the Mexican Julián Araujo as right back to measure speed with Nico Williams.
Athletic started better, whose high pressure prevented its rival from coming out clearly from behind, and threatening with dangerous arrivals, such as a high header from Jungle Sancet in the 9th minute, to the center of Yuri from the left.
This is how the first half went until the first red-and-white goal arrived, with a ball passed by Nico Williams also from the left – it was his seventh assist – which Gorka Guruzeta finished off into the net at the far post with a header, beating the back of Sergi Cardona and taking Álvaro Valles on the wrong foot.
Las Palmas barely had any respite from the suffocating Bilbao pressure, and on the few occasions it was able to do so, Sandro Ramírezthe only player from Gran Canaria in the starting lineup of Garcia Pimientaforced a corner kick that Saúl Coco headed wide in the 36th minute, precisely ahead of Guruzeta.
Second half with more pressure from Athletic
The unknown after the break was whether Athletic would be able to maintain that pressure for the rest of the match. And the reality is that it was not so voracious, which allowed Las Palmas to enter the game and have a chance of at least scoring.
Kirian narrowly missed a low cross in the 53rd minute. Sergi Cardona when the islanders were beginning to look like themselves. That the party had changed was evident.
Athletic had to adapt to a new role, and even so, they continued to be dangerous. Thus, in a corner taken by Unai Gómez From the right, Saúl Coco headed towards his goal and beat Valles when he fought with Vivian for winning the ball, in a fateful minute for the centre-back, who shortly before had received a card that will prevent him from playing next Sunday against Almería, also in Gran Canaria.
That own goal calmed the momentum of the local team, despite which they continued to take the initiative against an Athletic team whose biggest drawback was a new muscle injury in Yuri Berchicheless than a month before the Cup final against Mallorca in Seville.
Goal disallowed against UD Las Palmas
In the 78th minute it was a goal against Las Palmas was disallowed when Sandro Ramírez deflected a left-footed shot from Marvin Park with his left hand and changed the trajectory of the ball, a goal that might have put the Gran Canaria team in the clash.
Minutes later, Sergi Cardona also beat his own goalkeeper but after some previous hands from Berenguer in a fight inside the area.
The goalkeeper Unai Simon He put the cherry on top of the red and whites’ perfect afternoon by rejecting a one-on-one from Sergi Cardona himself in extra time.