1-1: INJURY-TIME EQUALISER AT THE SAN MAMÉS

Our LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 8 fixture against Athletic Club finished level with the score 1-1. Despite having started the match on the front foot, we reached half-time trailing a goal to nil. Jauregizar's strike gave the home side the lead late in the first half. Athletic Club's goalkeeper, Julen Agirrezabala, was sent off with ten minutes left on the clock, and we made the numerical advantage count as replacement keeper, Padilla, scored into his own net during injury time. Ejuke's brilliant run and teasing cross ultimately forced the mistake as the ball dribbled over the line following a ricochet off the crossbar. 

The first half was played at a high tempo by both sides. We started off in dominant fashion. WIthin the opening 10 minutes, Peque came close to opening the scoring twice. First, his flick flew across goal before drawing a big save from Agirrezabala. However, as the first half went on, the home side grew into the game, taking control of possession. Following a series of crosses being well-dealt with by our defence, the ball dropped to 20-year-old Mikel Jauregizar. His shot beat Ørjan Nyland via a little deflection. Our Norwegian keeper, however, dusted himself down and saved well from Iñaki Williams's effort to deny the home side a second.

Lukébakio rattled the post with a curling left-footed effort

We reacted well in the second half with Ejuke forcing Agirrezabala into a save within the first minute. Lukébakio was the next player to come close to an equaliser, he cut in from the right and curled an effort towards the far corner. Unfortunately, it hit the post and bounced away to safety. Suso was introduced off the bench, looking to help us find an equaliser. His first involvement was a long-range effort that missed the target. As we kept pushing forward, Athletic Club had chances to extend the lead. Guruzeta found time and space in the box but Nyland was equal to his powerful shot. 

Still trailing by a goal, García Pimienta brought on some fresh legs, including those of Mateo Mejía, who came on for his first-team debut. Soon after coming on, our Colombian striker took advantage of a poor touch by Agirrezabala and was then taken out by the home goalkeeper. With the referee deeming the challenge a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity, Agirrezabala was shown a straight red. Now playing against ten men, we pushed even harder for an equaliser. Gudelj had a free kick tipped over by Padilla before Ejuke raced into the penalty area in the third minute of added time. His cross was deflected onto the crossbar and an unfortunate ricochet saw the ball in the back of the net courtesy of the replacement keeper.

The late equaliser secured a hard-fought point on the road. Our attention now turns to next Sunday when we host the first El Gran Derbi of the season. The match against Real Betis kicks off at 18:30 CEST at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.

MATCH DETAILS

1. Athletic Club: Agirrezabala, Lekue, Paredes, Núñez, De Marcos (Yuri, 70'), Vesga (Ruiz de Galarreta, 58'), Jauregizar, Berenguer (Canales, 70'), Unai Gómez (Guruzeta, 58'), Nico Williams (Padilla, 85'), Iñaki Williams. 

1. Sevilla FC:  Nyland, Carmona (Pedrosa, 80'), Nianzou, Badé (Juanlu, 46'), Barco, Agoumé (J. Navas, 86'), Gudelj, Peque (Mateo Mejía, 80'), Lukebakio, Ejuke, Iheanacho (Suso, 59).

GOALS: 1-0 Jaugerizar (35'). 1-1: Padilla (o.g., 90+3').

REFEREE: Soto Grado. 

YELLOW CARDS: Carmona, Nianzou and Pedrosa. 

RED CARD: Agirrezabala.