Athletic advances to the quarterfinals after beating Alavés (2-0)
Euskaraz irakurri: Kopako final-laurdenetan izango da Athletic, Alaves kanporatuta (2-0)
Asier Villalibrewith two beautiful goals that defeated the Alavés in San Mamés, took Athletic Club to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Reya well-deserved classification of those of Ernesto Valverde but also fought by those of Luis Garcia Plazawho were able to tie just before the final 2-0.
The ‘Búfalo’ opened the scoring around half an hour into the match with a shot that began to be a trademark of the house, a very hard shot with the left foot against which Antonio Sivera He couldn’t even react. The battering ram had received Oihan Sancet and then surpassed Nahuel Tenaglia in the fight for the ball.
Athletic’s second goal was a beautiful red and white combination started by Alex Berenguerwith a subtle through pass to Oscar de Marcos and a no less brilliant center from the Bilbao second captain for him to finish Villalibre at will, and in a plank, at the far post.
Yeah Samu Omorodion I Giuliano Simeone they would not have encountered two enormous stops of Julen Agirrezabalawho saved his team from 1-1 at the beginning of the second half, perhaps things would have ended differently.
Although before the minute Berenguer had tried a bicycle kick in the visiting area, in the center of Sancet, the crash started evenly and without much rhythm. With Vitoria’s second unit standing up to Athletic’s starting block, which seemed to be missing the power on the wings of the Williams.
In that initial scenario came the best chance for the visitors in the first half, a shot from without much angle but very hard to hit. Hagiwhich saved well a Agirrezabala which he rectified at the exit. There, due to the long changes in direction to what is now the Romanian extreme, the Alava danger came.
But the lions began to stretch and, supported by the immense work of meadowswhich swept everything, and launched by Sancetthey soon took control of the game.
They lacked finesse in the first opportunities, Muniain and Herrera in two failed shots already Sancet in a header, but Athletic was fine-tuning and from midway through the first half each arrival was a chance to score.
The first, furthermore, was inside. A hard shot with his left foot Villalibrewhich he received from Sancet and won the action by insistence Tenaglia.
The final stretch of the first half was a red-and-white siege, which did not end the match for the second because Sivera It grew to a shot from the front of Berenguerafter a beautiful pass of Sancet.
Less successful was the Navarrese midfielder, who sent a good pass from Villalibre after the ‘Búfalo’ had recovered the ball in a brilliant individual action.
A center of From Marcos that aimed to pass a goal to Villalibre What a short Tenagliaand a cross shot that went a few centimeters wide to Munain closed the local siege until the second half.
Although the continuation started two great chances for Vitoria and two saves from Agirrezabala almost point-blank shots from Samu and Giulano Simeone.
The first finished off at will a cross from the left by Parada that was poisoned by touching a local player; and Cholo’s son finished off a pass even more easily on the edge of the small area from the under-21 international striker. Giuliano couldn’t believe the intervention of the Gipuzkoan goalkeeper.
The 1-1 that was planned for those minutes in ‘La Catedral’ did not come and Alavés paid dearly, since Athletic did take advantage of their first opportunity. A perfect center of From Marcos at the head of Villallibre that the battering ram finished with a plank. A subtle knock of Berenguer searching for the depth of From Marcos.
That was the end of the match, which faded between the carousel of changes between both teams and the clear distance on the scoreboard.
In this way, the team led by Ernesto Valverde will enter the draw for the quarter-final qualifiers that will take place this Friday, January 19.
Data sheet:
2 – Athletic Club: Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Lekue (Yuri, min. 70); Prados (Jauregizar, min. 86), Herrera; Berenguer (Nico, min. 70), Sancet (Unai Gómez, min. 78), Muniain (Adu Ares, min. 78); and Villalibre.
0 – Deportivo Alavés: Sivera; Sola, Tenaglia (Rafa Marín, min. 76), Duarte (Maras, min. 76), Víctor Parada (José de León, min. 87); Antonio Blanco (Selu Diallo, min. 66), Benavidez; Alkain, Giuliano Simeone (Guridi, min. 66), Hagi; and Samu Omorodion.
Goals: 1-0, min. 28: Villalibre. 2-0, min. 60: Villalibre.
Referee: César Soto Grado (Riojano Committee). He showed a yellow card to the visitors Benavidez (min. 71) and Rafa Marín (min. 90).
Source: Eitb

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