Raúl García nods Athletic past Valencia
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Article summary
Athletic 1-0 Valencia
Raúl García headed the only goal as the Bilbao side got the better of an all-Spanish encounter at a soaking-wet Estadio de San Mamés.
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- Athletic extend unbeaten European home run this season to seven matches
- Raúl García scores game's sole goal with 20th-minute header
- Persistent rain stifles teams' creativity
- Aritz Aduriz misses two excellent chances to double Athletic advantage
- The second leg is next Thursday, with the quarter-final draw the following day
Raúl García's first-half header gave Athletic Club the advantage over Valencia in the first leg of their all-Spanish UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie.
Heavy rain fell throughout as both sides stayed committed to their passing instincts, although it was perhaps no great surprise that the only goal came via the aerial route, with Raúl García finding the target on 20 minutes after he flung himself at Beñat Etxebarria's free-kick.
The hosts would have expected to extend their lead when Aritz Aduriz – the competition's seven-goal top scorer – beat Shkodran Mustafi to the ball, but he fired wide from the edge of the box. Gary Neville's visitors did create one opportunity before the break, Rodrigo shooting straight at goalkeeper Iago Herrerín when one-on-one.
The rain continued to hammer down after half-time and hindered attempts to craft openings, yet those that fell were to Athletic who might feel frustrated not to have a two-goal cushion to take to Mestalla in a week's time. Etxeberria's free-kick required a good stop from Mathew Ryan, while substitute Sabin Merino swept across the face of goal and put another effort straight at the Valencia keeper, before Aduriz drove a glorious chance over at the death.
Rain supreme at San Mamés
The rain teemed down as the game kicked off and continued relentlessly. Conditions were hardly conducive to attractive football though that did not stop either team trying to play, even if spells of possession were short-lived.
Raúl García uses his head
No player on the pitch had more experience than Raúl García – with 94 UEFA club competition appearances – and he made his mark by getting the only goal. With the sodden middle of the pitch stifling both sides' creative hopes, you sensed the midfielder knew the game might be won in the air as he launched himself to convert Etxebarria's set-piece delivery.
Mixed day for Laporte
Aymeric Laporte, the 21-year-old Athletic defender, is reportedly attracting interest from some of European football's biggest names and he underlined both his talent and his inexperience as the hosts kept a clean sheet. The Frenchman was caught out by Rodrigo's runs on several occasions yet almost produced a moment of magic with a long-range chip that would have dropped under the crossbar but for the intervention of Ryan.
