2023-06-16 01:16:27
In September of the past 2022, all the athleticzales they were eager to start the new campaign, once again, roaring in San Mamés to cheer on their “lions”. The fans were excited little by little that great things could happen this season, but little by little that hope faded, until it came to nothing. Of course, stressing that until the last game there was an iota of hope in all Athletic fans, since the team He fought for the goals until the end.
Athletic started the season in a very solid way, so much so that in the first ten days it seemed that it was going to be a representative of LaLiga in Europa League, And why not, in the Champions League, since he was only two points away from entering this one.
But little by little he “Rock and Roll” de Valverde faded away and by matchday 20 he was already out of the European positions, not even in those of the Conference League.
But the lions knew how to pull themselves together after those days in which they looked lost and climbed up the league table again. For matchday 30, just eight points from the end of the season, they were in a very comfortable seventh position, five points behind eighth (Osasuna) and just one point behind sixth (Villarreal), which indicated that this club was finally going to dispute the Europa League.
Nothing could be further from the truth. From then on, everything went wrong, until reaching the game in which hope practically disappeared. On Thursday, May 25, Osasuna and Athletic met again after the “rojillos” eliminated those from Bilbao in the cup semifinals. And the atmosphere was not only heated by this, both teams were tied at 50 pointsand whoever finished ahead would have a place in the Conference League. After a game to forget, those from Navarra won 2 goals to 0 in their field, thus denting the hopes of the athleticzales.
Finally, the last league match was against a Real Madrid that nothing was played. For the miracle to happen, Osasuna had to lose against Girona, and Athletic in turn had to beat the meringues. And it seemed that they were in luck, since Athletic opened the can with a goal from Sancet that made it 1-0. But, minutes later, Budimir twice would make the feat impossible. To this was added a penalty in favor of those in white, which was launched by Benzema. The ballon d’or did not forgive and scored in his farewell with the Real Madridruining even more if possible the morale of the Athletic fans.
Finally, the Bilbao club finished in eighth position with 51 points, something far from what was planned at the beginning of the season.
Add that Osasuna could be banned from European competitions for an alleged “tomorrow match”, since UEFA has already sanctioned Isloch for something similar. If this happens, it is most likely that Athletic will enter the Conference.
Athletic started with a scare in the 1/32 final. The Vizcaya derby returned in the Copa del Rey when the sestao river and the Athletic Club The faces were seen for another year in Las Llanas. The green and black dominated the early stages of the match until a goal from Raul Garcia at 32′ he sealed the match. In the last minutes the locals came dangerously close to the rival goal, but did not score any goal. The “lions” went round.
in the sixteenth Athletic traveled to Elda to face the recently promoted Eldense. The people from Bilbao had a very solid game in which they managed to score up to six goals.
Arrived the round of 16, things got more serious, since this time he played against Espanyol. A single goal from De Marcos after a disallowed goal from Joselu gave the victory to the rojiblancos.
in quarterfinals Athletic beat a Valencia in poor condition for 1-3being the four goals for Athletic (Own goal by De Marcos).
Finally, in the semi-fineHe played against Osasuna. The first leg was played at El Sadar, a field in which the locals knew how to take advantage and won 1-0. The fans were very confident in the return, since first It was not a very difficult team and “only” they had to overcome a goal in “the cathedral”. And everything seemed that Athletic was going to pass the round, since Iñaki Williams tied the tie at 33′. The teams went to the extra time and it was at 116′, already on the verge of penalties when Ibáñez would score for the Navarro team, thus achieving the pass to the final. Another year that the Bilbaíno team stays to the doors to raise the glass.
As the most relevant players this year they would be; Jungle Sancet, which has proven to be the best of the squad currently; Yeraythat whenever he has played he has shown the defensive solidity of Athletic and Iñaki Williams, who despite not having one of his best performances has scored when he had to, and that is why he enters this top. Honorable mentions for Unai Simon, De Marcos, Vesga, Nico Williams and Adu Ares, who seems to be gaining his place in the first team little by little.
Finally, it only remains to wait Let’s see how the 23/24 season goes, and if finally, it is possible to enter those long-awaited European positions (if Osasuna is finally not penalized, or if another team enters instead of Athletic), or if after many years at the gates (remember those two finals in a row) it is possible to lift the long-awaited Copa del Rey. We will have to see if the transfers made in this summer market really serve to strengthen the squad, if the departures leave minutes for players who perhaps have more projection, and most importantly, if the squad is encouraged and motivated to achieve those goals .
#Summary #Athletic #Club #season