Goodbye to the Cup despite beating Sevilla FC

Athletic Club defeated Sevilla FC 0-1 at Sánchez Pizjuán, but has been knocked out of the Cup after the 1-3 result last week at San Mamés. Gorka Guruzeta scored the only goal of the contest – it was his first goal in an official match for the Lions. With this Cup encounter, the captain Markel Susaeta has disputed his first 500 games defending the elastic of Athletic Club, a record that is the fifth to reach, after having done so far Iribar, Rojo, Etxeberria and Iraola.

Farewell to the Cup, no less disappointing as expected, although the 1-3 in San Mamés foreshadowed an almost impossible undertaking. On the other hand, the team has shown that they give their best in all circumstances. It did so with ten changes from Sunday’s starting eleven and it was able to defeat for the second time in four days one of the fittest teams in the league championship.

Last night’s match in Seville was an even duel and, unfortunately, we will be left with the doubt of what could have happened if Guruzeta had succeeded in one of the two opportunities of the first half, one with his foot and the other by a header.

Above the lucubrations, Athletic played with confidence and received the prize in the form of a goal, but perhaps too late, thanks to a splendid header from Guruzeta. There was hardly any time left, but it seems the team is coming into good form. Let’s hope so on Sunday in Villarreal.