Villarreal CF - Athletic Club

Athletic Club registered a goalless draw in their visit to Estadio de la Cerámica, where the yellow team scored goals for twenty consecutive games. Good defensive organization and Unai Simon’s saves allowed them to get the point, but the lions also had their chances and played well, forcing more corner-kicks than their rivals (10).

 It is now time to meet a Levante on the roll, who will arrive in Bilbao on Sunday after beating Real Sociedad and Barcelona.

The point, which keeps the lions close to European positions, made them sweat. Not only due to the temperature, but also because they had to stick together to face the excellent Santi Cazorla. 

Simón, the goalkeeper who has conceded the fewest goals in LaLiga Santander, was obliged to dive brilliantly more than once. He showed his skills in an initial intervention after a corner-kick that had taken his team by surprise.

Williams, at the far post, had no luck when he tried to beat Asenjo after a corner-kick taken by Ibai. The local keeper had his difficulties to grab the ball after a San José strike from the edge of the area. 

Athletic performed better after the break. Following a rightly disallowed goal from Gerard Moreno for offside, Yuri had a good chance that was sent for a corner by Rubén Peña. Raúl García had another opportunity to score after a later corner-kick.

Gerard Moreno’s instinct took him to face Simón, who finally cleared a point-blank shot with his face. A counter-attack from Cazorla threatened them one more time while Athletic strengthened with the substitutions, playing more time in their opponents’ side of the pitch. Raúl sent a left-footed strike wide and Simón completed his great performance by saving a header from Albiol.