Athletic Club 1 Getafe 1 - La Liga Week 13 (25th November 2018)

Athletic Club have now gone a club record 12 La Liga matches without victory after failing to defeat Getafe, at home, on Sunday afternoon.

Eduardo Berizzo made just one change the the team that lost at Atletico Madrid before the international break, with Raul Garcia coming in for Yuri who is suspended for three matches.

For Getafe, Pepe Bordalas made three changes to his team. Djene replaced suspended Bruno in the centre of defence. Jaime Mata was preferred to joint-top-scorer Angel in attack and Watford loanee Dimitri Foulquier started ahead of Francisco Portillo on the right side of midfield.

The first half was dull. Athletic played their usual brand of football under Berizzo: slow passing from the back, relying on the likes of Iker Muniain, Markel Susaeta and the advancing full backs (Mikel Balenziaga and Oscar de Marcos) to create chances. However, despite Mike San Jose looking very assured and graceful in midfield, they lacked cutting edge. Striker Inaki Williams has now gone 38 home league games without scoring - he rarely threatened.

Getafe knew that the onus was on Athletic to force an opening goal. They were content to sit deep, stay compact and try to hurt the hosts on the break. The first half passed with almost zero goal threat.

Three minutes into the second half and the encounter began to really open up. Amath Diedhiou went one-on-one with Iago Herrerin but the young Senegalese forward was denied by the goalkeeper's left boot.

Athletic hit the target via a Mikel San Jose header but in truth their attacking play was predictable and slow - much like it has been all season.

Eduardo Berizzo was forced into two substitutions within four minutes of each other. Raul Garcia and Mikel Balenziaga went off injured which meant that Athletic had a new-look left side made up of Inigo Cordoba and Inigo Martinez (who moved to left back from centre back) with 20 year old Peru Nolaskoain coming into the heart of the defence.

Six minutes after coming on, Nolaskoain headed Athletic in front. Getafe left-back Vitorino Antunes had committed a needless foul. From the resulting free kick Benat found Nolaskoain who powered his header beyond David Soria. This was his second goal for the club in his seventh appearance, and it really lifted the home team psychologically - particularly as Nolaskoain had scored the last time the Basques won (August 20th, at home to Leganes).

However, ten minutes later Getafe were level. Naturally they began to play more offensively after falling behind - throwing more players forward and attacking more directly. Athletic, with a narrow lead, retreated deep.

Jaime Mata grabbed the equaliser from close range after substitute Angel and Amath had combined to set him up.

From then on the game suddenly exploded into life. Athletic really felt they needed a victory and threw caution to the wind - this opened up huge gaps in the midfield which enabled Getafe to finish the match stronger.

Amath and Angel blazed wide either side of Aritz Aduriz - on a a substitute - heading against the post for Athletic with four minutes remaining.

In the final minute of added time Jaime Mata was wrestled to the floor inside the box but the referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva did not award a penalty and nor did he have a look at the replays.

Instead he blew for full time which meant that Athletic set an unwanted club record and remain in the relegation zone.

Getafe's point continues their good form: they've now gone six away games without defeat and have lost just two of their last eight matches. They move (temporarily at least) up to tenth with 17 points.

Top photo from AS

Bottom photo from El Espanol