Until the end, Athletic persevered to tie a game that was difficult for them when things usually have no solution, and that epilogue was tragic for Valladolid, who believed they were getting out of the hole, dreamed of leaving the red zone, and worked for 93 minutes to get it. But there was a 94, and with the Bilbao team determined to equal Moro’s goal, a foul in front of the area was made by Ruiz de Galarreta so that a specialist, Gorka Guruzeta, in an incredible shot, with his back to the goal and putting his leg in the air to the subtle touch of his partner, will leave José Zorrilla mute. And put an end to Valladolid’s illusions.
1
Karl Hein, Luis Pérez, Javi Sánchez, Juma Bah, Lucas Rosa, David Torres, Kike Pérez (Mario Martín, min. 75), Stanko Juric (Eray Cömert, min. 88), Raúl Moro (Víctor Meseguer, min. 88) , Anuar Tuhami (Iván Sánchez, min. 60) y Mamadou Sylla (Marcos André, min. 61)
1
Julen Agirrezabala, Aitor Paredes, Óscar De Marcos, Adama Boiro, Yeray Álvarez, Beñat Prados (Mikel Vesga, min. 45), Nico Serrano (Javier Martón, min. 79), Nico Williams, Unai Gómez (Álvaro Djaló, min. 45 ), Mikel Jauregizar (Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta, min. 45) and Alex Berenguer (Gorka Cruzeta, min. 63)
Goals
1-0 min. 78: Raul Moro. 1-1 min. 93: Guruzeta
Referee Adrian Cordero Vega
yellow cards
Anuar (min. 18), Mikel Jauregizar (min. 25), Benat Prados (min. 42), Vesga (min. 65), David Torres (min. 71), Mario Martín (min. 77), Javier Martón (min. . 89), Eray Cömert (min. 89)
It was, possibly, the closest result to what happened on the pitch, which is no consolation for Valladolid, who will see the glass half empty, after having seen it overflow. It was, of course, Guruzeta on the horn.
Pezzolano changed his way of playing, with five defenders to avoid greater evils for Athletic just the day Ernesto Valverde ordered the revolution in his ranks, not so much in the way they were deployed on the field, but in the lineup. Europe takes its toll, so the coach gave the team a notable facelift. The modifications on both sides deactivated the football, because Athletic had the initiative, but at a pace that was too calm for what the match required, so the Pucelanos played comfortably and even dared to come out, especially with the speed of Sylla. With the defense dismantled at times, Jauregizar and Prados, the two pivots in the middle of the field, were loaded with cards. The second one was red at the beginning, but the referee reduced it after observing the play carefully on the VAR. Valverde was forced to change them at half-time. For that reason, and, perhaps, because Valladolid had made Agirrezabala work more than necessary.
But the panorama didn’t change much with the shift wheel; more than anything because Athletic’s game was more predictable than ever, and the locals did their best in defensive work. The game was inevitably heading towards a 0-0 draw. But things are not always what they seem.
In one of the few opportunities in which the Pucelanos approached the vicinity of the rival goalkeeper, the red and white defense was too soft and allowed two consecutive deliveries into the area. The first one didn’t hurt, but the second one did. It was a cross from Iván Sánchez that Moro headed into the net to give oxygen to his team. It seemed, again, that Valladolid had it done. But, of course, it only seemed that way. In the 94th minute, locked behind and with four centre-backs on the field, he allowed the shot by Guruzeta, the specialist, who punctured the balloon.
