Athletic Club - US Sassuolo

Athletic Club 3 US Sassuolo 2

Athletic Club has defeated US Sassuolo Calcio 3-2 in San Mamés. Raúl García, Aduriz and Lekue have scored the goals of our team and Balenziaga with an own goal and Ragusa have made the goals of the Italian team.

The home victories have given us the classification in this Group Stage, since, among with the triumph of Genk, with these nine points the presence in the round of 32 is certified, although it remains to know if we will do as first or second. For this, the match of December 8 in Austria will be fundamental. That is, Athletic will be in the draw on 12 December and in the play off to be played on 16 and 23 February.

The match against Sassuolo has been crazy from the start. After the own goal by Balenziaga, Raul García’s header had immediately tied the match, but it was clear that the Italians had the quality and pride to fight for the victory.

The second half has been similar, although fortunately has been our team that has been ahead with goals from Aduriz and Lekue, but it is seen that tranquillity is not synonymous with European nights in San Mamés and the goal of Sassuolo has left us as a gift a final stage of great tension and, also, great joy after the final whistle.

The phase started badly, but the team has managed to redirect at home the negative dynamics of travel. So things, third consecutive campaign in which Athletic Club will dispute European competition in the coming year. It sounds easy, but it is not.