The first leg played last Thursday in Glasgow had led to a frustrating 0-0 for Athletic, 11 against 10 and even 9 at the end of the game. The return to a San Mames in record crowds, filled with an audience that is already seen in the final here, has long been so. 45 minutes to be precise, to the penalty of Sancet.
Attack-defense
Everything that preceded was looking like a cup match. But not from Europe, rather of Copa del Rey between a liga and a D2 which knows is limited and awaits an opportunity, only one, to surprise. The Rangers, enterprising to go despite their numerical inferiority, offered this most basic game: very low block and attempts against. In one half-time, only two strikes: a free kick of Tavernier above the 2nd minute and a strike from the Cerny midfielder. That is to say.
Basque side, the opposite. Coach Ernesto Valverde has long torn off his hair to see his family fails with a … hair. Sixteen shots, three cades and two “expected goals” testified to the domination and imprecision Zuri Gorri. Among the most obvious occasions, a failed face-to-face of the inevitable Nico Williams, a huge failure alone at the 6 meters of Sancet or a recovery next to Nico Williams, again, despite an empty goal.
The Athletic has long gave the Scottish Defense.
Bruno Breeau
-Sannadi the forced
These last two occasions with Sannadi on the last pass. The Moroccan scorer, who recognized this week not being at the level that should be his, produced a half-time like his team: volunteer, domineering, but above all imprecise. The pivot (1.92 m) weighed on the Scottish defense, and even made the trunk several times, taking the ball as best as possible with an academic conduct. His efforts were rewarded just before the break. Launched in the area, he set foot in opposition well and was hung by Souttar, offering the victorious penalty in Sancet.
And like his team, he was more discreet after the break, until it was released in the 74th. Because the Biscayens were much less sovereign in the second act, being even very scary twice. On an air ball badly negotiated by the defense, Dessers missed his chisel, the ball returned to Raskin, whose strike ended on the post. Less than ten minutes later, Cerny mystified two defenders on the right side, and his vicious center was a nothing to be taken up (67th).
The (small) storm had passed, and Nico Williams could lighten the sky above the cathedral. The left winger, on a perfect center of his Marcos captain, adjusted Kelly with his head and sent the Athletic to the semi-finals. Of “SA” Europa League.
(1) Avantage record for a football match in San Mames with 52,114 spectators.
