Ernesto Valverde and Quique Setién have a common past in Barcelona. It was difficult for both technicians to recover from the particular Blaugrana demands and it took them more than two years to return to training. Setién's "I prefer not to talk about Messi" explained many things. His "I can't assess if he disappointed me" was confirmed by him. Instead Ernesto Valverde, much more restrained, opted for silence.
After being dismissed in times of Bartomeu to be replaced precisely by Setién, the Txingurri celebrates his third stage at the head of Athletic Club since this season. Six days ago, Villarreal chose Quique Setién to replace Unai Emery. And the Cantabrian debuted with his new team in the League at the imposing San Mamés. Despite dominating the game with 57 per cent of possession and almost 500 good passes to the lions' 294, Valverde's Athletic spoiled their debut thanks to a goal from Iñaki Williams.
And that the groguet team that presented up to seven changes with respect to the European 2-2 in the Conference League started very comfortable in San Mamés. He dominated with the ball and with Commander Morales facing and entering the area defended by Unai Simón but without being able to finish the action. Captain Óscar de Marcos marked him closely and cleared his balls until he retired injured.
Angry with the performance of his team, Valverde instructed Raúl García, absent in the Basque defeat at the Camp Nou and the only novelty in the eleven of the lions. He asked for more head. And the lions began to send warnings. Rulli cleared a shot from the edge of Sancet. A good defensive action by Mandi prevented Raúl García's final shot after a good cross from Iñaki Williams and another cross from his little brother, Nico, went directly into the hands of Rulli. Things got ugly for Villarreal who lost their right back Lo Celso due to injury. Rulli inexplicably left the goal alone. Luckily Berenguer badly controlled the tremendous pass from Íñigo Martinez.
After the break, Athletic stopped forgiving. The sequence was as follows: Wonderful pass by Raúl García, great oriented control by Iñaki Williams who scored the goal of the match with a splendid definition. The only chance for Villarreal, superior only in possession, was by Alberto Moreno on the left wing. His powerful shot ended up in the hands of the Athletic goalkeeper. Later Raúl García, Unai Vencedor and Nico Willians pardoned the sentence of the lions. Valverde regretted it. He breathed a sigh of relief at the three points from him. With this result, Athletic is in fifth position and reaches 21 points. Villarreal, meanwhile, continues to show its most irregular side in La Liga and has now gone 6 away games without a win.
1 - Athletic: Unai Simon; De Marks (Leku, m.29), Yeray, Inigo Martinez, Yuri; Vesga, Sancet, Raul Garcia (Winner, m.69); Nico Williams, Berenguer (Morcillo, m.82) and Iñaki Williams (Guruzeta, m.82).
0 - Villarreal: Gero Rulli; Kiko Femenia (Cuenca, m.86), Mandi, Pau Torres, Alberto Moreno; Dani Parejo (Del Moral, m.86), Coquelin, Lo Celso (Trigueros, m.25); Chukwueze (Nicolas Jackson, m.64), Morales (Yeremy Pino, m.64) and Danjuma.
Goal: 1-0, m.59: Iñaki Williams.
Referee: Ortiz Arias (Madrileno Committee). He showed yellow cards to locals Raul Garcia (m.45) and Vesga (m.89), and visitor Alberto Moreno (m.50).
Incidents: Match of the twelfth day of LaLiga Santander played in San Mamés before 46,081 spectators, according to official data.
