Sevilla tried it last Monday by land, sea and air against an Athletic that knew how to grit its teeth back, resist with its clean sheet until the end and sentence with a lethal counterattack on the edge of the 90th minute. The changes introduced by Marcelino in this meeting, yes, were certainly striking.
The rojiblanco coach, in the midst of the host's offensive avalanche, opted to change the three lions that play closest to the center forward. The substitution of the injured Raúl García by Sancet was forced. The of Berenguer and Morcillo by Nico Williams and Ibai not so much. Extremes for extremes. The shot to the play came with the incorporation of Iñaki Williams instead of the always fighting Villalibre.
Athletic continued to fall back, but had more speed and freshness upstairs to be able to hurt Sevilla on the counterattack. The rojiblanco goal made by Sancet and culminated by the oldest of the Williamses certified the effectiveness of Marcelino's bet. Others, instead, would have chosen to further strengthen the defensive framework.