Ernesto Valverde's debut in his third return to the Athletic bench in San Mamés was bittersweet. Athletic did not pass the draw (0-0) against a defensive Mallorca, who had his hero in the debutant Serbian goalkeeper Rajkovic. The match also served to honor Iker Muniain, who turned 500 games for Athletic. In the course of the season he will be the second player with the most games in the history of the Bilbao club, only behind Iríbar.
The arrival of Valverde has not alleviated Athletic's lack of goals at the moment. Last season, Athletic was the third least scored team in the League, but only the tenth highest scorer.
Athletic constantly carried the weight of the game. He attacked with rhythm and intensity, but Rajkovic avoided all chances and became an insurmountable wall. The 5-4-1 that Aguirre planted in Mallorca turned out to be a pediment.
The clearest chance for the locals in the first half came close to half-time, a pass from De Marcos to Muniain but the Navarrese did not need the shot.
Already in the second half, in minute 56, Yuri would throw the ball at the post. Raúl García came out but he did not contribute finishing effectiveness either. Guruceta had the clearest at the end, but Rajkovic denied him the goal. He couldn't be more inspired on the day of his debut. In his previous club, the Stade de Reims, they called him the Serbian Oblak.
