Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish ahead Alex Berenguer celebrates on the finish of the Spanish league soccer match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Girona FC on the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on February 19, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Alex Berenguer scored twice as Athletic Bilbao introduced high-flying Girona again down to earth with a 3-2 victory on Monday, a outcome that supplied a actuality examine to the Catalans’ lofty LaLiga title ambitions.
Girona, the season’s early pacesetters, had been unbeaten in 15 successive league video games till their 4-0 thrashing by Real Madrid 9 days in the past. However, having received solely one in every of their final 5 video games in all competitions, they’re now at risk of being overtaken by the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
After struggling their second consecutive league loss, Girona stay second within the standings with 56 factors, however solely two factors forward third-placed Barca and 5 forward of Atletico. They path leaders Real Madrid by six factors.
Fifth-placed Athletic moved up to 49 factors, two factors adrift of Atletico.
Athletic dominated proceedings from the beginning and outplayed a quite subdued Girona.
Berenguer intercepted a go from rival Aleix Garcia to rating and provides Athletic the lead within the second minute and Girona had been fortunate to go to the break just one objective down because the wasteful locals misfired a number of possibilities, together with an absolute sitter from close-range by Inaki Williams within the seventh minute.
Athletic left the door open for Girona, and so they hit again with a Viktor Tsyhankov faucet in from a Ivan Martin cross that made it 1-1 within the forty ninth minute.
However, Berenguer put the locals again in entrance with one other strike within the 56th minute and Williams prolonged their lead in comparable vogue 4 minutes later.
Williams virtually scored a fourth after one other blunder by the guests 5 minutes later however keeper Paulo Gazzaniga managed to make a goalline save with the tip of his boot.
Eric Garcia put Girona again within the recreation, netting a close-range effort from a Aleix Garcia free kick however the hosts held on to safe their seventh consecutive win at residence, a outcome that put them within the race for a prime 4 end and a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League.
“It’s not easy to beat Girona. It’s something to be proud of,” Williams informed DAZN.
“We are doing things well and we have to look up, that’s what’s important. We’re going to keep dreaming and keep working because that’s how you get things done.”
