Bilbao’s Cup celebration spoilt by Villarreal draw
MADRID: Villarreal cast a shadow over Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish King’s Cup trophy celebrations by scoring deep into stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw in the La Liga.
Athletic won their first King’s Cup in four decades last weekend with a win over Mallorca, with the club presenting the trophy to their fans ahead of Sunday’s match at the San Mames.
Bilbao players made a guard of honour before the match.
“The team answered well after everything that happened in the final,” Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde said.
“The hangover from all the celebrations was a concern. That’s always dangerous.”
The hosts were winning until video review determined there was a handball inside the area five minutes into stoppage time, and Villarreal playmaker Dani Parejo converted the penalty kick to seal the draw.
Oihan Sancet had put Bilbao ahead in the 66th, some 20 minutes after Villarreal went a man down when Santiago Comesana was sent off with a second yellow card for a foul.
“We don’t understand the call for the penalty,” Sancet said. “We had the win until the last play of the match.”
Bilbao’s King’s Cup celebrations lasted several days in the Basque Country with players, coaches and staff parading in front of fans on the banks of Bilbao’s River Nervion on Thursday.
The draw hurt Bilbao’s chances of fighting for the final Champions League spot.
They are four points behind fourth-place Atletico Madrid with seven games remaining. Atletico beat third-place Girona 3-1 on Saturday.
Villarreal moved to ninth place with the away draw.
Leaders Real Madrid won 1-0 at at Mallorca on Saturday, while second-place Barcelona won 1-0 at Cadiz to stay eight points behind the rivals.
Sixth-place Real Sociedad conceded late in a 2-2 draw at home against last-place Almeria.
Adrian Embarba equalised for Almeria in the 88th for his second goal of the match by converting a penalty kick after a red card for Sociedad midfielder Igor Zubeldia.
Sevilla moved even further away from the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at Las Palmas. Youssef En-nesyri and Dodi Lukebakio scored in each half.
Sevilla’s second win in a row – both away – left the club in 13th place, nine points from the relegation zone. Las Palmas, sitting 12th, are winless in seven straight matches. They have lost five of those games, including the last four in a row.
Also Sunday, second-to-last Granada won 2-0 against Alaves, who are seven points above the relegation zone. —