Simón lights the fuse and Guruzeta pulls the trigger
Simón lights the fuse and Guruzeta pulls the trigger
In an incredible minute Simón saved a penalty and Guruzeta scored a goal to launch Athletic forward
Athletic Club defeated Deportivo Alaves 2-0 in what was the Lions' last match at San Mames before the Copa final in Seville.
A third 2-0 victory over the Gasteiz outfit this season leaves Los Leones in fourth place, a position they will hang on to unless Atletico beat FC Barcelona on Sunday.
The first goal came in an incredible minute of play. Unai Simón saved a Luis Roja penalty and moments later Gorka Guruzeta made it 1-0. The striker's second came five minutes later.
Deportivo Alavés caught Athletic by surprise with a great start. With the exception of an Iñaki Williams goal disallowed for offside, the visitors were comfortable.
Simón was the Zurigorri's saviour and catalyst on the night. He was called upon early on to keep out a Jon Guridi header at close range.
The shotstopper was in the spotlight again on the half-hour mark. A Nico Williams foul on Ander Gorosabel in the box put Los Leones on the ropes.
However, Simón kept out Luis Rioja with a save reminiscent of the one that led Athletic's comeback against RC Celta. The shotstopper has now kept 15 clean sheets in LaLiga so far this season.
Athletic quickly turned defence to attack as they immediately pushed up field after Simón's stop. Nico pulled out a familiar move to tee up Guruzeta, who tucked away a classy finish at the near post.
Alaves were stunned and Athletic went for the jugular. The Lions applied the killer blow in the 36th minute. Yeray played a long ball to Iñaki, whose loose control fell to the feet of Guruzeta. The no.12 showed no mercy.
It was smooth sailing from there on for Los Leones. The only other major chance saw Iñaki denied by Antonio Sivera in the 80th minute.
There were chants of "To Sevilla, olé" and "The Copa is ours" at the full-time whistle as the players applauded The Cathedral.
It's time to rest and recover ahead of next week's visit to Real Madrid, which, although difficult, provides another opportunity to progress. The final will have to wait for now, LaLiga comes first.