Athletic Club - Getafe CF

Athletic Club fell to 0-2 defeat at San Mamés against Getafe Club de Fútbol, in a match where the Lions could not find a way past Bodalás’ sturdy team. The goals scored by Damián and Mata, from a penalty-kick, dealt a crushing blow to the Red and Whites. There is no time to dwell on it, since our chance to get through to the Copa semi-finals is round the corner, the fixture will be held on Thursday against FC Barcelona in Bilbao.

Olivera threatened Simón’s goal in his comeback game with an off-target header after a corner kick, but the team from Madrid had to wait for the 35th minute to open the scoring. It was a quality play from their right-back Damián Suárez, who fired a cross-shot past the goalkeeper from Araba after two wall passes and dribbling past Yeray.

Asier Villalibre seemed to be the one who was showing his teeth the most in the hosts’ side. Through the left, he lost his mark and passed the ball towards Williams, forcing Soria to raise his hand to stop it. When people were getting tired of the continuous stoppages, some of them questionable, the break arrived, and with it the hope for a chance to get back into the game again.

But Getafe kept playing with energy and scored the 0-2 goal on 50 minutes, when the referee noticed a penalty thanks to VAR. Lekue had touched Nyom’s cross with his hand and after watching the replay on the monitor, Mata converted the penalty kick and made it almost impossible for the hosts to level the game.

Mata had another chance with a header and Garitano played his cards with a triple change bringing on Capa, Ibai and the extremely welcomed Aduriz, who moved well on the pitch. As soon as he entered, after three months without playing, he sent a header into the hands of the visitors’ goalkeeper. 

Williams was disallowed a goal on 78 minutes for offside and, to top it all, a left-footed shot from Ibai bounced near the goal line and Iñigo Martínez was shown a yellow card that will prevent him from playing the derby at Reale Arena. 

However, as it was said before, a challenge awaits us this week in our fixture against Barcelona, and we know the lion roars more loudly in nights like that. Getafe, heavy as they are, positioned third in the table, were indeed a tough opponent.