Europe remains four points away for Athletic after their hard-fought victory against bottom side Levante. The lions took longer than necessary to open the can, but when they did the first they ended up striking down a rival who was too keen to defend. Vesga, Iñaki Williams and Zarraga, from a penalty, signed the Atletico goals before De Frutos scored the away goal of honor.
Patience and perseverance were this time the great virtues of a team from Bilbao emotionally and physically affected by the tremendous setback at Mestalla. The people from Bilbao, slowly but surely, insisted on their offensive proposal against the large Granota defense. Cárdenas, once again a starter in the rival goal to the detriment of Aitor Fernández, managed to prevent the scoreboard from moving before the break.
Then, on the other hand, Athletic did not need so many arrivals to achieve their goal. The precision in Berenguer’s pass helped his own to go from 0-0 to 2-0 in less than a quarter of an hour. The lions did not have to fail and they did not.
four changes
Marcelino made four changes compared to the Mestalla cup clash. Unai Simón, De Marcos, Vencedor and Sancet came on for Agirrezabala, Lekue, Dani García and Raúl García, respectively. The lions were distributed in their classic 1-4-4-2.
Levante pulled the block that came from beating Elche with Melero for Malsa. Lisci, visiting coach, placed his team with a 1-5-3-2. The Granota team, bottom of the category, thus tried to protect themselves better behind to surprise the counterattack.
The lions took their time getting into the game. Once the position was taken, however, Athletic began to have arrivals and chances. Williams and Muniain were the first to warn. Sancet and Iñigo Martínez later joined the list of finishers. The goalkeeper Cárdenas, with the occasional help of Miramón and the crossbar, avoided what seemed inevitable.
Berenguer and Yuri also tried it, but with the same luck. Levante’s reply came in two consecutive actions with a shot by Morales, who minutes later had to be taken off on a stretcher, to the crossbar and Roger. Sancet and Iñigo Martínez were the last to try before the break.
The pressure from the lions grew in intensity at the start of the second half. Berenguer tried to start with a lateral center that Williams did not reach. Iñigo Martínez joined the other band shortly after and when he crossed he noticed a puncture that forced him to be substituted. Vivian stepped into his place.
The local insistence ended up bearing fruit just after the hour of play with a measured cross from Berenguer that Vesga, yes yes Vesga, culminated with a splendid header. Athletic, with Zarraga and Nico Williams already on the field, did not take their foot off the accelerator and increased their advantage shortly after after another great pass from Berenguer that Iñaki Williams, coming in the race, took advantage of to beat Cárdenas.
The lions, with Petxa and Villalibre as the last changes, opted to fall back against a Levante already with a defense of four and made the third after a penalty on Nico Williams that Zarraga converted. De Frutos, author of the maximum penalty, scored the away goal of honor a breath away from the end. Good reaction and better points from an Athletic that, once the Cup is dead, revives in the League.
athletic
31
levante
Athletic: Unai Simón; De Marcos, Yeray, Íñigo Martínez (Vivian, m.55), Yuri; Berenguer, Victor (Petxa, m.78), Vesga, Muniain (Nico Williams, m.73); Sancet (Zarraga, m.73) and Iñaki Williams (Villalibre, m.78).
Levante: Cardenas; Miramón, Rober, Duarte, Cáceres (Cantero, m.71), Son (Franquesa, m.84); Pepelu, Melero (Malsa, m.71); De Frutos, Morales (Bardhi, m.47+) and Roger (Dani Gómez, m.84).
goals: 1-0, m.63: Vesga. 2-0, m.76: Iñaki Williams. 3-0, m.87: Zarraga, from penalty. 3-1, m.91: De Frutos.
Referee: Alejandro Muñíz Ruiz (Galician Committee). He showed a yellow card to the local Berenguer (m.14) and to the visitors Miramón (m.20) and Son (m.37).
Incidents: Match of the 27th day of LaLiga Santander, played in San Mamés before 29,485 spectators.
see game file