BUILD-UP TO LUKÉBAKIO'S WINNER CONSISTED OF MOST PASSES SINCE 2009

Saturday's performance at Montilivi showed great strength in character after some challenging moments in the last few weeks. The whole team came out looking brave, had clear chances to take the lead, stood up to a side that is usually comfortable at home... and still went in at half-time behind on the scoreboard. Thankfully, the team gave, when it was most needed, a lesson that you always have to believe.

The equaliser came from a set piece, a goal that gave us our just desserts. We were intelligent and played with a coolness yet made it clear that we weren't letting go of what we had worked so hard to regain. From there, they drew up a plan that ended up leading to a great goal by Dodi Lukébakio with two minutes to go. Of course, his individual quality gave him the edge to put the ball past Paulo Gazzaniga , but it was also testament to some brilliant teamwork. Saúl's header to leave the Belgian one-on-one with the goalkeeper was the 17th consecutive pass in the build-up to the goal. It was an action in which eight of our ten outfield players.

The team came from behind to win a LaLiga match after 22 months

Coming against a home side who have played such impressive football in recent times, leading them into the Champions League this season, these 17 passes ensured it was a very special victory. Looking at statistics, you have to go all the way back to September 2009 to find such an elaborate goal-scoring feat. That goal was scored by Jesús Navas at San Mamés, rounding off a 4-0 win against Athletic Club.

In addition, the team settled a bad streak that had lasted for almost two calendar years, in which time we had failed to overturn a losing scoreline in the league. 22 months have passed since the team won at home against UD Almería in the final part of the 2022/23 season, in which Sergio Akieme gave the visitors the lead in the first minute. However, as was the case at Montilivi, the reaction came in the second half when Lucas Ocampos converted from the penalty spot and Erik Lamela secured the three points at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.