The rojiblancos beat their rival, ending a four-game winless streak
Villarreal, beyond some isolated occasion, hardly bothered Unai Simón
Short score for an Athletic that was infinitely better than its rival, a Villarreal that with Quique Setién does not start. After the first 45 minutes in which it seemed that the visitors could do damage, the rojiblanco team took the helm of the duel and was the owner and lord of the match. Iñaki Williams’s goal, which ultimately gave the victory, ended a four-game losing streak without a win. Short rojiblanco win considering the number of opportunities for the locals. Valverde will be happy with his players.
ATH
VILE
LINEUPS
athletic club
Unai Simon; De Marcos (Lekue, 29′), Yerai Álvarez, Íñigo Martínez, Yuri; Sancet, Vesga; Nico Williams, Raúl García (Winner, 69′), Berenguer (Guruzeta, 82′); and Iñaki Williams (Shin, 82′)
Villarreal
Rulli; Kiko Femenia (Del Moral, 86′), Mandi, Pau Torres, Alberto Moreno; Lo Celso (Trigueros, 25′), Parejo (Cuenca, 86′), Coquelin; Chukwueze (Jackson, 64′), Danjuma and Morales (Pino, 64′).
goals
1-0, Inaki Williams (58′)
Referee
Ortiz Arias (Madrid committee). TA: Raúl García, Vesga; Alberto Moreno
First half with alternatives but without too many chances beyond a shot by Sancet that Rulli cleared. Villarreal tried to get Athletic into trouble using a Morales mobile, but the local defense remained serious and impassive.
Everything changed after going through changing rooms. Ernesto Valverde’s men took to the field with the winning chip and, helped by a failed Pau Torres, began to press on, with chances multiplying one after another. Until, after a warning from Danjuma that Unai Simón had to clear, a pass into space by Raúl García was used by Iñaki Williams to beat Rulli at his exit.
Timid reaction from Villarreal, who tried with a shot from Alberto Moreno that Simón rejected. It was nothing more than a mirage, since the rojiblancos pressed the accelerator again. Winner and the Williams brothers forgave the second.
In the final minutes, Villarreal timidly approached the red and white area, but it barely tickled to an Athletic that returns to taste the honeys of victory.