El Athletic runs in the Basque Country

Athletic's fourth consecutive victory at home in the most important Basque derby, no one is going to discuss it on both sides of the AP-8 because there is no debate. It is starting to become a trend for lions to look over their shoulders at their neighbors in San Mamés. La Real, very predictable until the break, once again completed a lot of stingy minutes and their rival knew how to take the derby where they wanted. If that one aspired to the 'sorpasso' in the classification, it was left in the gutter, it is slowed down again after two victories, punished because it has very little in attack, it lacks edge or verticality. The reaction in the second half was very lukewarm. 45 more open, with better options, but Valverde sang a lullaby, knew how to slow down and the points stayed at home, a tradition lately. They are fifth and looking to the Champions League.

The pulse between neighbors was stretched with both registered in their own field resting with the ball. Perhaps Athletic, being the one who set the field in the derby, was more determined to visit the enemy's goal. Nobody wanted to take risks or lose balls that would condemn the troops, so they eliminated the rhythm in the first half. There was furious pressure, but lower than in other commitments. Until the 15th minute there was no news from the goalkeepers. Sucic fired a bitten shot and then Djaló scored the first shot between the three sticks, which Remiro saved at grass level. The man from Madrid, again as a nine, was extremely motivated and tried again shortly after. He was very boisterous, throwing shots, fierce in search of glory and wanting to please the stands.

Imanol's team was losing aggressiveness, they barely sponsored the ball, whoever had it could not find passing lines, there was little support to perpetuate possession. Sergio was the most outstanding. La Real used the windshield wiper, fanning the ball with horizontal passes without any significance, long, absolutely silent possessions that the only thing that could lead to a loss and ruin. The lions, on the contrary, were becoming sharp, vertical. It was a matter of time. The 1-0 was knocking on the door of La Catedral. Prados touched him, but he hit the ball very badly. The attacking play did not die there, since the action greatly unbalanced Real. Nico stumbled for possession against Sergio and Aramburu, and leaned on Prados, who returned it to him and near the baseline, the winger sent a very drizzled pass.

Sancet entered like a plane from behind and ate Javi López with an imperial headbutt in which Remiro could have done more. It is not easy for a player who runs backwards to nullify a physical wonder like Oihan, who was never detected by the Canary's radar and that is why he won the position. In any case, the San Sebastian team had been very soft throughout the goal sequence. And Nico, stellar once again with his spark, unbalanced with his brilliant appearances.

The derby was still out of control. The locals, without being particularly brilliant, were better. La Real, forced by the result, did not run until close to half-time and felt they had to go deeper. At the beginning of the second half he found more decibels in his transitions, the intensity increased, he began to associate and that gave him the generation of some game. Of course, once again Prados found the key to the big chances inside, with a new soft shot after a pass from Sancet that Remiro saved without breaking a sweat. The best chance for San Sebastián came in the 59th minute, an action by Sucic, with a center in the middle that Zubimendi did not finish in conditions and he even snatched a clearer shot from Sergio Gómez.

The changes folder had yet to be opened. La Real began to take the initiative and Valverde wanted to break that trend with fresh legs and impetuous people like Jauregizar and Unai Gómez from Bermeo. Sergio had a shot later. The preview of a somewhat more blue-and-white scenery. Because in the 78th minute, in a corner taken by the 17th himself, Oyarzabal finished off completely alone and brought shock to the audience. But really the clock was ticking and nothing much happened. The script that the red and white team wrote was reflected on the green. So, as the derby cliché dictates, during the next week those who look at La Concha will have to put up with the jokes of those who look at the Nervión estuary.

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