A scrappy fixture unfolded this Saturday in the New San Mamés, where Sevilla imposed themselves from the beginning, but were unable to overturn the first half opener that turned the Nervionenes visit to Bilbao into a nightmare they couldn't wake up from. After a fantastic first half, Vesga's goal just livened the hosts, and left Berizzo's side deflated in the second.
Fortune already looked against the visitors within the first twenty minutes, where two obstacles reared their head; first, Iglesias Villanueva unwilling to give a penalty for a challenge on Lenglet by Raúl García, then an injury to N'Zonzi which forced Berizzo to sub on Krohn-Dehli early.
Sevilla were forced into a change early, with N'Zonzi subbed-off injured for Krohn-Dehli.
However, Sevilla pushed forwards enough to force Bilbao's performance out of the goalkeeper Kepa, who denied Sevilla on a number of occasions. After reaching a cute pass from Navas that neither Vázquez nor Correa could get hold of, he denied Corchia from a direct freekick that looked to be going in.
Sevilla were growing in confidence, so much so that just a minute later, found by Ben Yedder, Franco Vázquez was again denied a big opportunity by Kepa. Kepa was the star again moments later, denying a Carole shot in another clear chance for Berizzo's side.
Vesga gave the hosts the lead against the run of play
And though Ziganda's side only managed to test the goal of Rico once before with a Susaeta shot that the keeper sent for a corner, an isolated play which started with a throw-in allowed the hosts to take the lead totally against the run of play. Vesga scored barely one minute from half-time, to give Athletic Club a lead which belied Sevilla's dominance.