A goal by Alex Berenguer on the edge of the break awarded the merits of Athletic against Valencia in San Mamésa game in which the Bilbao team achieved its first victory in what is Ernesto Valverde’s third season on the bench (1-0).
Athletic played and had chances to score more goals, which the Williams brothers achieved, although both were offside, but Valencia he also made his merits and disposed of his opportunities.
Especially in the added part of the match, five minutes in which overturned over the Unai Simón area and he was able to tie on the last day of the match, a tremendous diagonal by Marcos André who finished off very cross.
The Brazilian from Sao Luis did not find a goal and validated Berenguer’s goala shot from the edge of the left in which Giorgi Mamardahsvili was not as solid as he should have been and which gave three points that put Athletic at the top of the table, where he intends to be all season.
The defeat does not diminish Gennaro Gatusso’s Valencia at all because it gave a good image and could have drawn after starting the season with a victory that gives him peace of mind in the table.
From the outset, both coaches maintained the idea that both were so happy in their league debut, Valverde with the sensations and Gatusso with the victory in addition to the image given.
The red and white coach opted again for the ‘rock and roll’ that brings together Sancet and Muniain inside in midfield, although he dispensed with Villalibre to give entrance to the youngest of the Williams, Nico. So the eldest, Iñaki, stepped forward at the point of attack.
And Athletic came out furious again, who in five had already starred in several arrivals, had forced a couple of corner kicks and had even enjoyed a great chance. But Berenguer spoiled the 1-0 and a splendid play by Muniain, who had enabled him, finishing off Mamardashvili’s one-on-one to the body.
The rojiblanco captain, as if wanting to correspond to the recognitions he is receiving, today the last, for his 500 games, He made an excellent first half leading his team continuously to the rival area.
But, as has been happening in recent times, Athletic he was not capable of translating his evident superiority into goals.
Meanwhile, Valencia, despite Hugo Duro’s injury in the 16th minute, was little by little leveling the game and even reaching Simón’s area. Where Castillejo was not too fine in a shot from inside the area, with many possibilities, which he sent high.
Before Lino had already warned the local defense and then they tried to hurt Castillejo himself, Jesús Vázquez and again Lino.
Although nothing to do with the Bilbao siege, which did not stop centering from the wings and making clear the lack of an accredited finisher inside the area.
And when it seemed that the match was going to rest without goals, Berenguer took advantage of a ball that fell at his feet from Vesga to get close to the edge and beat Mamardashvili with a low shot and with the left that did not catch the Georgian goalkeeper well placed.
Athletic still scored a second goal in injury time, but Williams was in the clear when he finished off a loose ball almost at will.
The start of the second half maintained the line of the first, with up to four dangerous arrivals, three from Nico and a cross shot from Muniain. Nico’s third was a race from area to area in which he, accompanied by his brother and Muniain, did not find a good solution.
And as in the first half, Valencia managed to shake off local dominance at times, but not possession, to instill fear in Unai Simón’s area. First with a high shot from Paulista and then with a shot from Castillejo, outside.
Already in the final options against Athletic, Nico had a goal disallowed for offside, to the center of his brother. An Iñaki who also percussed with his runs, with no more success than keeping the rival defense continually threatened.
Already in the discount, Marcos André put a lump in the throat of the local fans twice. First, with a header, to the center of Foulquier; and on the last play of the match with a diagonal to the area from the left in which no one stopped him and he finished off with a very low cross shot.
Datasheet:
1- Athletic: Unai Simon; De Marks, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Vesga, Sancet (Victor m.73), Muniain (Raul Garcia, m.73); Nico Williams (Cape, m.92), Berenguer (Zarraga, m.64) and Iñaki Williams (Morcillo, m.92).
0 – Valencia: Mamardashvili; Thierry (Foulquier, m.74), Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Jesús Vázquez (Lato, m.62); Guillamón (Marcos André, m.74), Musah (Nico González, m.62), Carlos Soler; Lino, Castillejo and Hugo Duro (Maxi Gómez, m.16).
Goals: 1-0, m.42: Berenguer.
Referee: Cesar Soto Grade (Riojano Committee). He showed yellow cards to locals Vivian (m.12), Muniain (m.68), Unai Simon (m.79), Yuri (m.85) and Yeray (m.88), and visitors Musah (m.24). ) and Diakhaby, (m.74).
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VAR Referee: Davis Medié Jiménez (Catalan Committee).
Incidences: Match of the second of LaLiga played in San Mamés before 43,333 spectators, according to official data.