Athletic Bilbao faced a tough outing at San Mamés, where they lost 3-1 to Sevilla. The match was marked by an early red card: Yuri was sent off in the 11th minute after a direct challenge that left Miguel Sierra in the goalmouth. The referee, César Soto Grado, sanctioned the foul and the dismissal, leaving Athletic with ten men for most of the game.
Sevilla took advantage of the numerical advantage to open the scoreline. In the 14th minute, Oso scored the first goal for the Andalusian side, followed by a second in the 50th minute by Chidera Ejuke. Just six minutes later, in the 56th minute, Isaac Romero added a third goal, leaving Athletic trailing 0-3. Despite the pressure, Athletic managed to score in the 69th minute when Aitor Paredes put in the only goal of his team.
The atmosphere at San Mamés was tense from the start. Athletic supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with a mix of boos and cheers, while the stadium became a scene of tension and frustration. The presence of Unai Simón, Nico Williams, Laporte, and Luis de la Fuente in the stands added an element of nostalgia and anticipation.
During the break, the stadium’s wifi went down, causing the televisions in the press room to go dark. It is speculated that the cut may have been caused by the crowd’s stress, though it was not officially confirmed.
Athletic tried to regain its spirit with a more aggressive style of play, but the lack of defensive cohesion and Sevilla’s high pressure proved too much. Terzic’s team showed moments of quality, but the lack of experience in the defensive area became evident.
The final 3-1 result for Sevilla sealed the win in the first two rounds of the championship. Athletic, with Yuri’s dismissal and the defeat, now faces the task of reorganizing and seeking a comeback in upcoming fixtures.
