Valverde’s men insist until they beat Cádiz
Muriqi signs the first victory for Aguirre’s team
MADRID, 16 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Athletic Club beat Cádiz (3-0) this Saturday on the fifth day of LaLiga EA Sports to become stronger in San Mamés and at the top of the table, while Mallorca beat RC Celta (0-1) Vigo to achieve his first victory of the course.
The Basque team remains among the best in the League after the national team break thanks to a patient victory against a Cádiz team that defended itself well in the first half. All in all, Athletic went into the break with two balls hitting the crossbar from Sancet and with some intervention from Conan Ledesma. The Andalusians looked for the loss of the rival to come out quickly on the counterattack, but they did not succeed even once with danger.
The visitors, with the same points as the Basques, kept their plan intact but the pressure from San Mamés did not stop growing in the second half to encourage an Athletic that continued to forgive. Sancet was close again and Iza took one from Guruzeta between the posts, but Cádiz came close with Maxi Gómez to show that they seemed to like the script.
With the outcome in the air; That’s where the shots from Guruzeta and his substitute Villalibre came in two minutes, two headers to confirm Athletic’s lead (10 points) without the injured Nico Williams. Iñaki scored the third already in stoppage time and Ernesto Valverde’s men regain the strength of San Mamés lost last year.
In the afternoon session, in Balaídos, Mallorca opened their winning streak thanks to a goal from Muriqi in the 85th minute. The ‘Pirate’ took the treasure from Vigo, where the locals deserved better luck in terms of play and chances. However, Rafa Benítez’s men were not successful, letting points slip away again.
The break did not bring continuity for a Celta that tried in every way. Muriqi gave the locals the first scare but the chances came in the boots of light blue players: Aspas, Larsen and, already in the second half, Fran Beltrán. The VAR did not smile at Benítez’s men either in a goal disallowed by millimeters, a shot by Bamba that hit the crossbar and then bounced in the ‘VAR zone’.
Mallorca stood up as they did last year and emerged victorious with the opportunism of Muriqi and a play by Maffeo and Dani Rodríguez. The plan worked this time for Javier Aguirre and a Mallorca team that lays foundations for the season at the cost of removing those of a Celta team that remains on four points.