INCONCISTENCY: NOVEMBER (2014)
Two wins and two defeats isn't what Athletic will have wanted to come out of this month with. Quique's team have played well but they haven't managed to grab that extra goal to secure a victory and that has come back to haunt them a couple of times.
ATHLETIC 4-5 SEVILLA
MUNIAIN, ADURIZ, RICO, AKETXE
In the last two months Athletic have lost their opening game and sadly that was no different this months as the club couldn't pick up any points in a truly enthralling goal-fest at San Mamés against Sevilla. It was clear from early on that this was going to be no ordinary game when Athletic took the lead in the second minute after Muniain went on a run and slotted the ball underneath the opposition keeper. It only took a minute for Sevilla to respond through Carlos Bacca and on the seventh minute they managed to grab another to go in front, this time Marcell Jansen getting a goal. Both teams were attacking this very open game and grabbing chances. A quarter-hour gone and it was once again level at 2-2 with Aduriz powering home after their keeper parried straight back out into the box. Ten minutes later and Sevilla were back in-front through Alejandro Arribas and after that 30 minute flurry of goals, Sevilla sat back and went into the lead in-front. The game started after half-time as quietly as it started, however in the 80th minute Aurtenetxe brought Carlos Bacca down inside the box and gave Sevilla a chance to go two up, a chance which Grzegorz Krychowiak took calmly. Three minutes later and Mikel Rico brought a goal back for Athletic with a back-post header from a corner. In the last minute of normal time it seemed that Athletic had grasped themselves a point with a very late equaliser through young Ager Aketxe. However a counter-attack from Sevilla found it's way to Carlos Bacca inside the box who was once again brought down, this time by captain Gurpegi. Krychowiak put away his second penalty and Sevilla ran off with all the points.
VALENCIA 1-3 ATHLETIC
DE MARCOS, IRAOLA, MUNIAIN
They may have lost their third month-opening game in a row, however each time they had lost at the start of the month they have won the game after and this run has also continued. A game against Valencia at the Mestalla is usually a tough game, however Athletic made it look easy with a comfortable victory. Things really didn't start well for Valencia when Shkodran Mustafi was shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge Ibai Gómez. Athletic looked comfortable from then on and looked the home team as they pressed 10-men Valencia back. Oscar De Marcos struck first after a well-executed move fell to him inside the box and he neatly lifted the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net leaving Yoel, in place of the injured Diego Alves, rooted to his spot. Close to half-time and another nice piece of play from Athletic landed to Oscar De Marcos, this time he was just outside the box and thread a lovely through ball into the box and Iker Muniain cut inside to latch onto the end of it. As he did João Pereira tugged him back and the pair went down, the referee awarded a penatly to Athletic. Iraola had to wait a while on the spot ready to take it as João Pereira had fell awkwardly after pulling Muniain back and needed treatment, however Andoni calmly waited and confidently dispatched the ball down the right. 70 minutes gone and Negrado brought Valencia hopes back-up with a wonderful volley after Gurpegi didn't get enough power on a clearing header. Despite this Athletic pushed on and the game was safe on the 85th minute when Iker Muniain found himself clear on goal, he rounded the keeper and ran the ball into the net and grabbed the goal he deserved.
ATHLETIC 3-2 ESPANYOL
ADURIZ, BALENZIAGA, CASILLA (og)
After a week break, and a trip to South America which saw Athletic run-out 6-2 winners in a friendly against Argentinian side San Lorenzo, Quique's side lined up against Espanyol at home. The game started slowly until the 30th minute when Athletic managed to grab two goals in five minutes. The first of the goals came through striker Aritz Aduriz after a lovely, deep cross from Iker Muniain whipped in-front of him and the big Spaniard bounced the ball past the keeper. The second was a little more... different. Athletic hit a corner close to Espanyol keeper Kiko Casilla and he went to punch it away from the goal, however he tumbled over his own player and slapped the ball into his own-net. After this bizarre goal, things settled down until well after half-time and the game suddenly sprung back into life with a nice counter-attack from Espanyol. Felipe Caicedo managed to turn Aymeric Laporte, however as he ran off Laporte kicked out at Felipe and the Ecuador striker was sent flying. The referee was given no option but to send Laporte off and Espanyol managed to grab a goal soon after with Sergio Garcia bringing the Barcelona team back into contention. A very crucial goal came late on for Athletic from an unlikely source. Mikel Belenziaga darted up the left wing and took a pass from De Marcos inside the box and pumped it into the far corner. This put Bilbao two goals up and meant that Athletic came away with all three points despite a late goal from Sergio Garcia. This may have been a lucky win for Athletic, however this may be a crucial three points.
GETAFE 3-2 ATHLETIC
ADURIZ (x2)
Athletic couldn't manage to round the month of with a win as they fell to two late goals from Getafe. This was a game they were unlucky to lose, however a couple of bad balls out of the defence show the importance of Aymeric Laporte who was suspended after his red against Espanyol. Neither team started well and the game was full of long-balls going straight to the keeper until the 40th minute when Aritz Aduriz managed to bring one down and volley the ball past the keeper to put Bilbao into the lead at half-time. Markel Susaeta was introduced off the bench during the break to mark his return from injury. The game came to life in the second-half as Getafe pushed for an equaliser. They very nearly did as Croat Sammir managed to get a good connection on the ball from outside the box and his shot was destined to fly into the top corner until young goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga managed to fly to the ball and hold it. From this he threw the ball up the pitch to Susaeta, who ran half the pitch with it. He then crossed the ball over to Aduriz who headed the ball low and hard into the bottom left-hand corner. This goal seemed to spark Getafe into action and soon after they managed to grab a goal back through Emiliano Velázquez in the 65th minute. Coming into stoppage time and Athletic were sat back soaking up pressure until two moments of inspiration from 23 year-old Álvaro Vázquez saw Getafe grab an equaliser and then, very late on, a winner to crush Athletic's day.
LEAGUE TABLE
Name: Pts - GD
1. BARCELONA: 30 - +29
2. VILLAREAL: 30 - +14
3. R MADRID: 29 - +19
4. ATLETICO: 29 - +16
5. ATHLETIC: 25 - +6
6. DEPORTIVO: 23 - +4
7. CELTA VIGO: 20 - 0
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Iker Muniain is possibly Athletic's most prized possession and the 21 year-old has been proving that he can live up to the hype surrounding him. With a couple of goals to add to his wonderful play this month, it is quite clear why he has this award.
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