Newcastle United - Athletic Club

A depleted Athletic Club suffered a 2-0 defeat in Newcastle. A setback in the Champions League, but the team is still very much alive in the tournament with four games to go.

Despite the blows the team took in the match, especially Newcastle second goal via Joelinton just after the break, the Lions never gave up and had chances to close the gap. It was a also a night which saw Selton Sanchez and Asier Hierro make senior debuts.

With Gorka Guruzeta's illness the latest obstacle in a dark moment for the team, Athletic didn't overcomplicate things at St. James' Park. They applied high pressure and played better in the early stages.

However, they paid dearly for a lapse in concentration when Dan Burn headed in from a Kieran Trippier free-kick. It was the 10th minute and a major blow for the Lions.

Ernesto Valverde's team have not had much luck in recent times. In one minute, they had two chances to equalise- Nick Pope saved an Unai Gómez that looked to be going in, and then Adama Boiro struck the post with a spectacular effort from distance.

The truth is that hardly anything of note happened and until the 42nd minute, both teams were struggling to make an impact. Unai Simón made up for a mistake with a prodigious save to deny Joelinton not long before the break.

The worst part was the start of the second half, with Athletic conceding the second soon after the restart. Nico Serrano and an active Hierro threatened Pope, but to no avail. Selton also helped with his boldness.

We need to be ready for Sunday's clash against Real Oviedo at San Mames. A crucial match in LaLiga.