Between scoring and not receiving, by Iñaki Ugalde

Athletic sees how its few European aspirations vanish little by little with the passage of time. The sixth position seems unattainable at this point in the League and the seventh gives the right to play a new continental tournament based on certain variables. Finishing the seven, in other words, does not guarantee anything by itself.

RIt’s frustrating to find yourself like this at this point in the season. Marcelino’s team has played more and better than what the qualifying table reflects. The problem is that football does not live on a good image, but on goals.

DThere is a big difference between scoring and not scoring in the rival goal. An abyss. And Athletic, in this sense, has been facing a double problem for some time now: it is as difficult for them to see the door as it is for them not to score.

Inist, there is no other. Making a brief review of the league history of the Bilbao team, it is evident that the classification does not reliably reflect the merits contracted by the lions in a good part of their commitments. In Villarreal, without going any further, he forgave more than necessary, something that the less usual Emery did not do.

AWill the streak ever change. It would also be good if the director’s success and the lock under sticks converged. Beat the rival goal and leave your own to zero.

Nor is it time, despite everything, for regrets. Athletic is on the right path. The rest is just a matter of getting it right and the rival not getting it right. Almost nothing.