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Mallorca missed a penalty and, in fair consideration, Athletic missed another. It all happened in the crazy final stretch of the match, in which the emotion denied during the first two thirds, boring and lacking football was concentrated. Garitano's team ended up taking a point that, seen as seen, must be taken for granted, because it did not deserve more. In any case, it was Mallorca that did the most to win, but the Balearics should know that forgiveness is not a great virtue in the First Division. Even less for a small team whose ambition is permanence. [Narration and statistics: 0-0]

The day had begun with anxiety for Athletic due to the storms that are ravaging the Mediterranean coast. Two hours of waiting in Loiu to finally land in Palma around 2:00 pm, just seven before the meeting began in Son Moix, also marked by the last league visit of Aduriz to Mallorca. They left a great mutual mark during the two years of the Guipuzcoan as a vermilion and for that reason the striker was honored by his former team with the delivery of a shirt with the '21' he wore in Mallorca and his name printed. It will not be the last recognition he receives in what is his final season as an active footballer.

That atmosphere of cordiality was broken after 43 seconds of matches with the earliest yellow that has been seen in LaLiga in more than a decade. It was taken by Dani Rodríguez . It was the beginning of a first part with very little history in which Athletic was forced to handle the ball longer than he would like. Mallorca, after a small arreón in the first minutes, gave its rival all the initiative, denying the spaces and doubling the aid in the bands to prevent the lateral centers of which the whole of Garitano lives.

The Biscayan coach, after a while, ordered Dani García to be embedded for the centrals to get the ball played, a movement that delayed the Vermilion pressure line and that allowed Athletic to gradually grow in the match. The rojiblanco baggage, yes, it was very scarce. Just a very focused header from Raúl García and a shiver with the left-handed Muniain who found no goal. He did not do too much Mallorca, but he reached the rest giving a double scare, thanks to a direct lack of Salva Sevilla and a frank but devious header from Baba .

More ambition

The calm with which Athletic handled the crash disappeared after passing through changing rooms. Mallorca came out more ambitious and began to approach Simón's goal. In fact, Lago Junior missed a very clear cross shot after a high-heel of Febas . Garitano's immediate reaction was to put Aduriz in the field. Minutes before, Beñat had replaced Unai López , who flirted with the second yellow.

Coincidence or not, the entry of veteran striker coincided with several occasions of Athletic in the air game, all with the signature of Raúl García. It was a mere mirage, because Mallorca immediately regained control and began to generate danger. Salva Sevilla sent a ball to the post and Abdón Prats sent out a clear penalty committed by Yuri on Kubo , the Japanese pearl ceded by Real Madrid, which left very good sensations in the half hour he had.

It was the beginning of an end of madness, with a shot to the crossbar of Athletic, a penalty-signaled by the VAR- failed by Aduriz in the discount and a goal annulled to Alegría in the last play of play for offside. In the end, everything remained as it was, with Athletic maintaining its undefeated but offering rather worse feelings than in the previous three games.

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  • sports
  • football
  • First division
  • Athletic Bilbao
  • RCD Mallorca
  • Aritz Aduriz

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