Athletic Club 1-Espanyol 1: No luck

Athletic Club has ended their first half of the Liga season without luck. After the draw against Espanyol, it is 26 the points harvested, the identical balance to the end of the first half of the past Liga. Now we must only hope that the European harvest is identical at the end of the season. It was a pity not to have been able to obtain two more points, but the collection of occasions had no translation on the marker. For starters, Ezquerro kicked the ball out in the initial minute, whereas Yeste has lodged a foul shot in Kameni’s net from far out in the minute 3. The goal has not mitigated the local offensive. The newcomer Fernando Llorente has run into Kameni in the minute 5 and Yeste has sent high a forthright ball almost immediately afterwards. The Espanyol has weathered the storm as well it could, although a penetration by Ezquerro in the minute 17 has been on the verge of finishing as an own goal.

The Espanyol has reacted with a timid header by Coro in the minute 21 and it almost drew in the 25 with Amavisca’s help, thanks to the fact that the referee let the game continue after a clear hand by Ito. At that moment, Lotina guessed right by sending in Soldevilla to the centre and advancing De la Peña, who has created danger in the minute 27, just as Llorente has done in the minute 29. With the match now more even, a well carried counterattack has been wrapped up by Maxi in the minute 31 and the goal has changed the sense of the match, in addition to being obtained while offside. We must wait and see what reflection that circumstance will have in the media, if we remember, for example, the match against Atlético de Madrid and the later repercussion of Del Horno’s goal.

In the second half, the red-and-white control has been even more noticeable and more extended in time. Llorente has had the first option in the minute 56, the same minute on which Lacruz has returned to field of play after his serious and extended injury. Immediately afterwards Ezquerro has had another occasion in the minute 57 and Llorente in the 58th minute and the svelte striker has even ended with a header that Ibarra had to remove from under the posts. Etxeberria has also not been able to successfully culminate a beautiful counterstroke in the minute 71 and Ezquerro has not scored in the 75. And where was Espanyol? They were sheltered in the back and without creating a single goal option in the entire second half; happy with the point that allows them to remain up on the table.

At least we can say that we have a new lion after Llorente´s debut. That is our joy of today and our guarantee for the future; may many fruits continue to spout out of the work of our reserves. And as for the competitions, we have to eliminate Lanzarote on Wednesday in the Copa.

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