Valverde’s team won the direct duel for fourth place against Villarreal and Alguacil’s team thrashed Leganés
Alavés stood up (2-2) in El Sadar
MADRID, 8 (EUROPA PRESS)
Athletic Club strengthened its position in the ‘Top 4’ of LaLiga EA Sports by beating Villarreal (2-0) this Sunday on matchday 16 held in San Mamés, while Real Sociedad has already entered the European zone with its victory (0- 3) against Leganés and Deportivo Alavés scored (2-2) at El Sadar in Eduardo Coudet’s debut.
Ernesto Valverde’s men have not lost a game for two months and, against a direct rival like ‘Submarino’, they did not fail to extend the streak and consolidate themselves as a ‘Champions’ zone team. Marcelino García Toral’s men had their moment in the first half, although in a game usually without many chances.
However, in a corner kick after a quarter of an hour, it was Aitor Paredes who saw the goal for an Athletic with skill as well as a lot of confidence. Villarreal’s plans, with the entry of Gerard Moreno and Ayoze Pérez at the beginning of the second half, burst with Iñaki Williams’ 2-0, the Basque sentence in the 69th minute.
Thus, Valverde’s men, fourth, have 32 points compared to Villarreal’s 26, fifth after a chain of one defeat and two draws, although with two games less. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad continues its progression in the table and in its football to place sixth. Imanol Alguacil’s men pulled the punch that they sometimes resist to leave Leganés very aware of the relegation zone.
The Madrid team took advantage of the heat of Butarque to start strong and with chances, but the one who scored was Brais Méndez for the visitors in the 15th minute. The ‘Lega’ continued looking at Remiro’s goal, especially with Óscar, who gave the ‘pepineros’ victory in this duel last year with a great goal from a free kick.
However, Take Kubo left his sparkles and, with the game at a decisive moment, Ander Barrenetxea scored the 0-2 just entering the field. In stoppage time, Mikel Oyarzabal scored the third and final goal for Real, pending possible injuries to Aihen Muñoz, Martín Zubimendi and Sergio Gómez, but happy with his line.
THE ALAVÉS STANDS FACE IN THE SADAR
Furthermore, in Eduardo Coudet’s debut in the League as the new coach of Deportivo Alavés, the Basques got a hard-fought draw against an Osasuna that pushed hard in the second half. Kike García, scorer of the two visiting goals, and a giant Antonio Sivera between the sticks prevented the ‘reds’ comeback.
Under intense rain, two teams that usually don’t give up anything had a beautiful battle for the three points. Vicente Moreno’s men, who finished their fourth consecutive day without winning to be seventh, started from behind in the first minute, with a header from Kike García with people still looking for their place in the stands.
From less to more, Osasuna, who claimed a penalty on Budimir that the referee ruled out in the VAR, tilted the field towards the goal of a Sivera who gave his team peace of mind in the local centers and who returned after the break with saves. However, after saving a called goal from Catena, the 1-1 came in the subsequent corner kick with Budimir’s tenth goal in the League.
Shortly after, in a foul that deflected the barrier, Rubén García turned the game around for an Osasuna that continued to press but was careless behind. Carlos Vicente won the baseline and put the death pass to Kike García in his place once again to make it 2-2. Both teams did their best and the scoreboard did not move, a strong point for Coudet’s start although the red zone was tight.