Athletic Bilbao defender Xabier Etxeita, left, vies with Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes reacts during La Liga match Valencia and Athletic Bilbao on November 9th, 2014. Valencia beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on April 9th, 2015. (Getty)
Final Score
Athletic Bilbao 0-1–1
Valencia 0-1–1
Athletic Bilbao fought hard and tied Valencia 1-1 on April 9th, 2015.
Rodrigo de Paul scored his first goal of the 2014-2015 La Liga season for Valencia and Diego Alves made a massive save for the visitors in the 56th minute.Aritz Aduriz of Athletic Bilbao struck the header aimed at net but was thwarted.
In the 90th minute, though, Aduriz leveled the game at one for the the hosts.
Athletic Bilbao will play Espanyol on April 13th, 2015, while Valencia will face off with Levante on April 12th, 2015.
Here are the highlights:
Goal for Adriz Aduriz in the 90th Minute
A scramble up front and Adriz Aduriz levels the game for Athletic Bilbao.
Goal for Rodrigo de Paul of Valencia in the 60th Minute
Paco Alcacer sets Rodrigo de Paul up for his first La Liga goal of the season.
Chance for Athletic Bilbao in the 56th Minute
Aritz Aduriz of Athletic Bilbao has a header from the left side of the six yard box cleared off of the line by Nicolás Otamendi of Valencia.
OTAMENDI SALVA. ¡¡¡En línea de gol!!! Antes la tuvo Alcácer en una salida en falso de Iraizoz. Athletic – Valencia, 0-0 | 107.1 FM
Chance for Athletic Bilbao in the 47th Minute
Shot fired on Valencia’s net by Xabier Etxeitia but saved by Valencia goalie Diego Alves.
Chance for Athletic Bilbao in the 43rd Minute
Casi Williams hits the side of the netting for Athletic Bilbao before the half.
Stats
Goals: Athletic Bilbao- Adruiz (91′); Valencia- de Paul (60′)
Shots (on goal): Athletic Bilbao, 12(4); Valencia, 7 (4)
Possession: Athletic Bilbao 54%; Valencia 46%
Tackles: Valencia, 31; Athletic Bilbao, 20
Fouls: Athletic Bilbao, 17; Valencia, 14
Lineups
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; de Marcos, Etxeitia, Gurpegui, Balenziaga; San Jose, Gomez , Rico (Susaeta 70′), Lopez (Benat 54′), Williams; Aduriz
Athletic Bilbao Reserves: Herrerín, Aurtenetxe, Iraola, Benat, Susaeta, Viguera, Guillermo
Valencia: Alves; Mustafi, Orban, Barragan, Otamendi; Feghouli, Piatti (De Paul 27′), Rodrigo, Javi Fuego, Gomes; Alcacer (Negredo 71′)
Valencia Reserves: Rodriguez, Cancelo, Salvador Ruiz Rodriguez, Vezo, Augusto, De Paul, Tropi, Negredo
Preview
Athletic Bilbao defender Andoni Iraola, left, vies with Valencia forward Pablo Piatti during the 0-0 draw between Valencia CF and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on November 9, 2014. (Getty)
Valencia sits fourth in La Liga, tied with Sevilla, and tied Villareal 0-0 on April 5th, 2015. Valencia need a win to maintain their push for Champions League football, as they are now four points behind Atletico Madrid for third in La Liga, as Atletico Madrid won 2-0 against Real Sociedad on April 7th, 2015. Sevilla also won 2-1 at Levante on Tuesday April 7th, 2015 to go level on 61 points with Valencia.
Athletic Bilbao lost to Sevilla 2-0 on April 4th, 2015 and is 8th in La Liga table with 39 points. Athletic Bilbao saw their five-match winning run in La Liga end with Saturday’s loss but the game was not the only thing lost on Saturday. The defeat was even more painful as Athletic’s Iker Muniain tore his left anterior cruciate ligament and has been ruled out for at least six months. To further complicate matters for Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde, Spanish midfielder Ander Iturraspe is also unavailable to face Valencia because of a muscular injury. Athletic have won their last three home league games and are eighth in the standings, but are 22 points behind Thursday’s opponents.
Athletic Bilbao played Valencia to a 0-0 draw on November 9th, 2015.
