Mallorca resisted with ten for a large part of the match to secure a goalless draw in Son Moix against Athletic, who failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority on the field. The distribution of points leaves both teams with 18, at the top of the standings, but frustrates the Bilbao team, who dominated the match, but did not create any chances against an intelligent Mallorcan rearguard.
0
Dominik Greif, Antonio Raíllo, Martin Valjent, Johan Mojica, Pablo Maffeo, Robert Navarro (Dani Rodríguez, min. 64), Manu Morlanes (Copete, min. 91), Sergi Darder (Antonio Sánchez, min. 45), Samú Costa, Cyle Larin (Omar Mascarell, min. 24) and Vedat Muriqi (Abdón Prats, min. 91)
0
Julen Agirrezabala, Aitor Paredes (Dani Vivian, min. 45), Yuri Berchiche, Yeray Álvarez, Andoni Gorosabel (Óscar De Marcos, min. 81), Oihan Sancet (Alex Berenguer, min. 56), Nico Williams, Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta (Ander Herrera, min. 69), Mikel Jauregizar, Iñaki Williams and Gorka Guruzeta (Álvaro Djaló, min. 56)
Referee Juan Martínez Munuera
yellow cards
Samuel Costa (min. 9), Aitor Paredes (min. 16), Mojica (min. 22), Cyle Larin (min. 24), Muriqi (min. 36)
red cards
Samuel Costa (min. 22)
The first part in Son Moix had a lot to cut through, especially in the disciplinary aspect. After a very clear chance by Muriqi in the first minute, which Agirrezabala frustrated with a great save, things began to get complicated for Mallorca when, in the 11th minute, the VAR notified Martínez Munuera, who had shown a yellow card to Samu Costa, to review the action, but the referee decided to uphold his decision and not send off the Portuguese. However, just ten minutes later, the Mallorca player committed another reckless action and saw the second yellow card, and this time, his team was left with ten.
At that moment, Arrasate had to change the plan. He immediately ordered a change. He put Mascarell on the field and retired Larin. Mallorca lost its edge and, forced by circumstances, gave up its initial desire to play happily and became a more conservative block. He managed to get Athletic more stuck than they had been until then and barely created any danger. It was only scary, almost at the end of the first half, in a gallop by Iñaki Williams that Nico headed home to score, but the VAR images showed that the ball had left the field before the cross.
Mallorca was well equipped at the back in the second half, and managed to dry up almost all the avenues through which Athletic tried to influence. Without reflecting the numerical superiority on the pitch, Valverde’s team, which was not having its best night, lacked the necessary imagination to weaken the solidity of the Mallorcan block.
The Bilbao team took the ball and did not let it go throughout the second half, but apart from causing eleven corner kicks, they did not manage to worry Greif. Once again Athletic saw how the referee annulled a goal, due to offside by Iñaki Williams, while a hundred meters away, Julen Agirrezabala began to feel the pain due to his inactivity, because the Muriqi buoy barely received any balls in the 50 minutes that lasted the second part.
Athletic could only score twice. The first, in a double chance by Nico Williams, who hit the crossbar, and on the rebound Berenguer shot wide by centimeters with a volley, and another in a shot by Ander Herrera, close to the post from outside the area, which went wide. It was a poor offensive production after having three quarters of the clash in numerical superiority. That is why Ernesto Valverde did not abandon the serious gesture except to say goodbye to Jagoba Arrasate, his friend, at the end of the match.
