San Mamés dreams of an Athletic champion of the Europa League. A dream that is closer tonight: the lions defeated the Rangers (2-0) with the breath of the fans Athleticzale To get into his history in the semifinals, where he already expects rival between Manchester United and Olympique Lyon.
The Biscayan team did ratify this time – after the goalless draw in Scotland – its theoretical superiority about an opponent who managed in the first half and against which he suffered more in the second part. The penalty goal of Oihan Sancet was key in the last sigh of the first act, as well as the judgment of Nico Williams, despite not signing his best game, when the Scottish team pressed in search of the tie.
The start of the match, with a luxury and record at home in the rojiblanco stadium (52,114 spectators), and without Iñaki Williams finally in the eleven, was thrilling, with The two teams trying to put a lot of rhythm. A scenario where Ernesto Valverde’s team took more advantage, than Little by little he took the command and was cornering his rival.
Sancet had the first two good options to open the score clearing of some defense of the Scottish teamthat was careful to contain the continuous local rush and that at times he succeeded.
An exquisite control of Sancet and a powerful shot of Berenguer in the same play were the other notices of an Athletic that, in addition, managed to maintain defensive intensity Led by Ruiz de Galarreta and Mikel Jauregizar, preventing Barry Ferguson team He only had to intervene to abort Cerny’s distant attempt.
Meanwhile, the Rangers stopped Nico Williams with the Tabernier brand, but He ran into the problem that Maroan Sannadi meant. The striker was erected as the best Valverde weapon, becoming a true headache for the Scottish rear to the point that, in the end, one of them committed An innocent error at the most inappropriate time.
After not connecting a center of Marcos well, percussing several times on the right side and leaving a good ball to Sancet, which did not succeed a few meters from the goal before Kelly’s rapid exit, He was shot down within the area by an excessively impetuous Souttar When he pursued a ball and the consequent penalty, in the fourth minute of addition. The ‘8’ did not forgive him, who made him take Athletic ahead of the break
Nico Williams sentence when the Rangers pressed
The Rangers was obliged to step forward after passing through changing rooms and, with their arguments and supported above all in Cerny’s work, He gradually launched in search of the tie and Agirrezabala began to have more troubleswhile his companions did not get so danger to be able to seek the sentence with little presence, despite the spaces, again by Nico Williams, and without finding Sannadi or Sancet.
That’s why, The best occasion in the second 45 minutes was for Barry Fergusonwith Raskin leading with the stick, a warning that gave more confidence to the Scottish team. Óscar de Marcos arrived in time to head a corner kick a ball that Dressers waited and the local goalkeeper showed security to a powerful shot of Cerny.
Ernesto Valverde tried to look for more control with fresh legs with the entrance of Beñat Prados, by Ruiz de Galarreta, and Gorka Guruzeta, by Sannadi. But what allowed him to breathe the coach Extremaduran was A great center of Marcos to a Nico Williams too freed and who did not forgive a semifinal flavor header. Without too much time, the Rangers did not find the goal that gave him the necessary energy and ‘The Cathedral’ celebrated the pass that allows him to dream of the ‘revenge’ of the final lost 13 years ago against Atlético de Madrid.
