Athletic Club 0-Seville 1: Can’t get back on their feet

Athletic Club were not able to beat Sevilla who won the match (0-1) in San Mamés and now find themselves in a dangerous situation towards the bottom of the league ladder. Just as in past games, it’s not that the team played badly but they simply did not play well enough to overcome a lethal cocktail of ineffectiveness and unfortunate referee decisions. What the team needs to get back on their feet as quickly as possible is the following; hard work on a daily basis, the support of a united red-white family and a little bit of luck.

The match was up for grabs, especially in the first half, as both sides played knowing that they needed the points. By the 4th minute Saviola had already put Aranzubia on the ropes, in the 6th Tiko and then Llorente ran into Palop and the defence, in the 11th Llorente took a shot at goal that missed, and in the 13th Kanoute squandered a great goal-scoring opportunity.

Later in the same period, the match could be described as having reached a stalemate and both teams were only able to break this situation a couple of times. Athletic had their opportunity with Tiko and then Orbaiz, but their dangerous shots at goal both went out in the 31st and 32nd minute. Sevilla’s opportunities were still to come, in the 44th minute Alves scored the only goal with his right and one minute later Saviola’s brilliant kick was deflected to corner by Lacruz.

In second half Sevilla preferred to be more defensive and this resulted in very few opportunities and some doubtful referee decisions. David got a yellow card in 53rd minute and deserved another one in the 66th minute, but the referee refused to make a call. Juande Ramos saw the danger and immediately sent Puerta in to replace him. The referee was more severe with Tarantino than David, who had received his first yellow in the 39th minute and his second in the 75th minute. Tarantino fully deserved his two yellow cards just as David deserved two yellow cards.

In the 52nd minute Murillo stepped in for Prieto who had sprained his right ankle. Navas fired away in the 55th minute but the shot went out and, in the 61st minute Llorente had a great opportunity but in an attempt to finish it off had crossed the ball too much. Yeste was substituted by Guerrero in the 69th minute and Kepa was sent in for Saviola in the 73rd minute in order to make the defence more effective. Our team’s last substitution was that of Javi González who stepped in for Tiko. This was followed by a penalty committed by Javi Navarro who had touched the ball with his hand and, a very good shot at goal by Adriano who was replaced by Pablo Alfaro soon afterwards. To sum up, Sevilla were able to reach their objective and take home the much needed points.

The fans were not happy, as you would expect in a situation like this, but on occasions were too hard on the players. The Copa is just around the corner, and let`s see if it will herald the start of a winning streak.