Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Sevilla
Inaki Williams bagged a brace on the break to give Athletic Bilbao a massive home win against Sevilla which lifts the Basque team clear of La Liga’s bottom three.
And defeat did serious damage to Sevilla’s slim title hopes which now look in tatters, and Pablo Machin’s side needs to concentrate on securing a top four place. But it’s 11 points from five games for new Bilbao boss Gaizka Garitano and the smiles have truly returned to the faces at the Saint Mames stadium.
Sevilla has been in a battle with Atletico Madrid for second spot and the two title hopefuls battled out a 1-1 draw last week. But with Rojiblancos winning earlier in the day that ship looks to be sailing away rapidly.
Highlights of the game
Sevilla started brightly and sent out a warning in the third minute when former Manchester City winger Jesus Navas fired a shot from outside the box but it was comfortably saved by Iago Herrerin.
The hosts had their first attempt on goal when Oscar De Marcos passed to Inigo Cordoba just outside the penalty area and he let fly, but his shot was straight at Tomas Vaclik in the visitors’ goal. But the opener did arrive on 23 minutes when Bilbao broke quickly and Cordoba found Inaki Williams with a beautifully weighted through ball, and the striker smashed his sixth league goal of the season high into the top right corner to send the 40,000 home fans wild.
Chances to add to the score line were few and far between though the hosts did have an opportunity on the cusp of half time. Simon Kjaer fouled Iker Muniain within shooting distance and Benat Etxebarria’s free kick whistled past the left hand post.
The big pre-match Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla news was that Machin was without winger Nolito, who is out for three months having broken his leg in training, and his team was struggling to create the chances to service Wissam Ben Yedder and Andre Silva.
The second half began as the first ended, with Bilbao looking more likely to add a second. Munain and Williams combined well to make an opening but Munain’s shot went wide, and Yuri had an effort blocked. Sevilla weathered the early storm and Pablo Sarabia and Andre Silva both had efforts on the Bilbao goal, but nothing much to panic the home fans.
As the clock ran down Sevilla continued to press and Silva tested Herrerin but the Bilbao keeper was equal to his shot. Then, after Quincy Promes’ shot flew wide Herrerin took an age to retrieve the ball and take the goal kick, receiving a yellow card for his trouble. But he needn’t have worried and the game was settled once and for all when Williams bagged his second on another fast break. This time Dani Garcia fed the in-form striker and he did the rest, slotting coolly home.
Job done.
Key statistics
Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla betting tips predicted a tight game and both sides had ten shots, Sevilla enjoyed more of the possession, but Bilbao had the killer instinct.
In a first half dominated by two well drilled defences there were only six shots, four for the hosts and two for Sevilla, though both had two on target. And things livened up a little in the second. Garitano has made a big impact since his promotion to the top job in Bilbao and this was a great win to keep his momentum going.
It was a rematch of the Copa del Rey fixture right here on Thursday which Sevilla won 1-3, but I’m sure Garitano wouldn’t swap the results for a minute.
This was the 50th meeting of these two sides since 1993 and Sevilla is still on top, with 23 victories to Bilbao’s 14, but this was a first defeat for Sevilla in nine games, while Bilbao has now won the last four meetings between the two teams at Saint Mames.
What’s next?
These two teams meet for the third time in a week when they contest the second leg of the Copa del Rey tie in Seville, and then Athletic Bilbao makes a trip to Valencia to take on fellow strugglers Villarreal in an epic clash.
Sevilla has an equally huge game next weekend when Machin takes his side to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid. Los Blancos are hot on Sevilla’s heels and will expect to beat their rivals in front of a passionate crowd on home soil.
Two great fixtures for SBOBET football fans to enjoy, so make sure you keep up with all the news updates right here.
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