Athletic Club 2-Parma 0: Good start

An excellent beginning to the group phase after defeating Parma by 2-0, with good response from the stands in San Mamés by way of a great atmosphere. Everything is on track for the classification to the following rounds thanks to the goals by Gurpegi and Del Horno.

Many possible readings can be made from the match, which will be resumed for those who give no credit to our team in that Parma has played with reserves or that they are thinking about the Liga. On the contrary, what is most interesting is the classification: three points and at the head of the group along with Steaua. And with it the second consecutive match without receiving goals (third in the season), in this case with Lafuente guarding the goal for the first time this season. A goal is not patrimony of the forwards (Gurpegi and Del Horno already have two each in the UEFA) and this is the second consecutive victory, fourth in San Mamés. In that same line, it can be said without a doubt that the team has played calmly from the 2-0 and that they have saved energy for Sunday in Albacete.

In short, Athletic Club has been absolutely dominated the match and even more so after Gurpegi’s early goal in the minute 6, a great shot that has made Berti’s stretch and, at the same time, the conservative approach that the Italians brought useless. The occasions have been all red-and-white, with closing by Urzaiz in the minute 22 and similar occasions by Etxeberria in the minutes 43 and 45. If, on top of this, we add Del Horno’s header in the minute 48, we can say that is where the match ended, even though Baldini has tried to react by listing Morfeo, Gilardino and Bresciano. As an example, a reminder that the only occasion by Parma has been that of Pisanu in the minute 59. In the other group match, Steaua of Bucharest has defeated Standard of Liege by 2-0.

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