Delaney celebrates his goal at San Mamés
Match reports

0-1: A DELANEY SCREAMER SECURES THREE PRECIOUS POINTS

11/12/2021
The team had to dig deep, with Athletic hitting the post twice and forcing Bono into making two crucial saves

A massive win on the road. On their visit to San Mamés, a place which certainly isn't a happy hunting ground for the club, Sevilla FC picked up all three points, despite being plagued by injuries and suffering elimination from the UEFA Champions League just 72 hours ago. Once again, the team dug deep, and managed to go in at half time a goal to the good despite the fact that they could have been a few goals behind. Delaney's beauty from the edge of the area gave the visitors the lead, and they held on for the win thanks to some crucial interventions from Bono. 

If you were to describe the events of the first half to any football fan who could not watch the match, they would not be able to correctly guess the scoreline, but that's football. Sevilla FC led by a goal to nil at the interval. Delaney scored just before the break with a sweetly-struck left-footed effort from the edge of the area, leaving Unai Simón with no hope of saving it. However, the hosts created numerous dangerous opportunities, but they somehow failed to convert any. 

Delaney gave Sevilla the lead before half time, while Athletic missed four clear-cut chances

The Sevilla backline lost the ball in a dangerous area on no fewer than three occasions, resulting in good goalscoring opportunities for Athletic. Bono was called upon on two occasions to deny Iñaki Williams and Raúl García, while Vencedor hit the post from the other mistake. Dani García had also hit the post earlier on with a low drive. All this came before the 38th minute, when a nice move by Papu led to Montiel sliding the ball to the edge of the area for Delaney, who scored his first goal for the club to give Julen Lopetegui's side the lead. 

After an eventful first half, the second half was played out at a much slower pace, and, in fact, there was little if any action in the first fifteen minutes after the interval. Sevilla improved, pushing higher up the pitch and began to maintain possession of the ball, while the hosts lamented their failure to score in the first half. Unfortunately, there is now another injury worry for Sevilla, as Lopetegui had to withdraw Augustinsson, who suffered a knock midway through the second half.  

Muniain had the best chance of the second half, missing the target from close range

As the clash wore on, Athletic Club began to dominate and push for an equaliser. Muniain had a gilt-edged chance to level the scores, but he fired over the bar after Iñaki Williams had put it on a plate for him near the penalty spot. Sevilla would then have another player ruled out of a match, with Fernando receiving his fifth booking of the season, which means he is suspended for the visit of Atleti. Sancet would then have Athletic's final chance of the evening, with his weak effort missing the target. The visitors then saw out the rest of the match, and will take three precious points back to Seville, confirming that they will end this matchday in second place in LaLiga Santander. 

MATCH SUMMARY

0. ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón, Lekue (Petxarromán, 65'), Yeray Álvarez, Íñigo Martínez, Balenziaga, Dani García (Zárraga, 65'), Vencedor, Nico Williams (Berenguer, 75'), Muniain, Raúl García (Sancet, 56') and Iñaki Williams.

1. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Montiel, Koundé, Diego Carlos, Augustinsson (Rekik, 65'), Fernando, Delaney, Ó. Torres (Jordán, 65'), Ó. Rodríguez (Gudelj, 84'), Papu Gómez and Rafa Mir (Munir, 77').

GOALS: 0-1 Delaney, 37'. 

REFEREE: Hernández Hernández. Bookings for Lekue, Dani García, Vencedor, Fernando, Rekik, Koundé and Íñigo Martínez.