MADRID, 14 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad signed up (3-1) for the Basque derby against Athletic Club this Saturday on matchday 17 of LaLiga Santander, an intense clash in the first half and already ‘txuri-urdin’ in the second with a penalty from Oyarzabal and the expulsion of Yeray at 60′.
In the Reale Arena the party not only does not decline this season but grows almost every week. Imanol Sheriff’s men signed up for the most important game of the year, as the coach said in the preview, to also establish third place in the table and a solid candidacy to play in the next Champions League.
Iñaki Williams forgave the first against Remiro, showing Athletic’s ability to arrive despite not having the ball. However, Take Kubo and David Silva marked the differences in a first half exchanging blows, with errors in the ball out that condemned Ernesto Valverde’s men.
A great goal from Sorloth in the 25th minute opened the scoring and redoubled the local energy on the pitch. The visiting team wanted to take a step forward but the wear and tear from San Sebastian was complete, with pressure that paid off. Silva’s recovery, as if he were a kid, served the 2-0 win for a fashionable Kubo in San Sebastián and Spanish football, who threw a pipe at Vivian and sent the ball into the net.
Against the ropes, the ‘lions’ made another roar before the break to keep the derby open, with a play between Nico Williams and Yuri that Sancet finished off at 2-1. The return of changing rooms left the change of a Sorloth physically touched by Oyarzabal, more control for Real while Athletic continued looking for the vertical game and the quick exit.
The derby lit up again when at the time of the match the referee signaled a penalty and a red card for Yeray on Kubo. The Japanese was flying when he noticed the contact but the people from Bilbao claimed that the Spanish central defender barely touched him. Oyarzabal did not forgive and scored again 10 months later to clinch the derby.
The local rush led to a very clear chance for Merino against Unai Simón while Valverde arranged his team in a more offensive way without actually threatening Remiro. Sheriff’s men take advantage of Villarreal’s tie and reinforce their Champions League candidacy, while Valverde’s men lose the Basque event and the European zone begins to get complicated due to their weak version as a visitor.