Sevilla v Athletic Bilbao: 21-11-2011

Athletic Bilbao extended their great run of form tonight with a 2-1 win away to Sevilla. Marcelo Bielsa’s team has now gone eight consecutive league games without losing. The Argentine coach, who has revolutionised the playing style of the Basque club, got his tactics right yet again, this time gambling on Javi Martinez in defence.

The game started quite frantically from both sides and the first two goals came early as a result. The first came in the fifth minute when Iroala from just outside the box tucked the ball into the bottom left hand corner of Javi Varas’ net with pinpoint precision after a woeful headed clearance from the returning Negredo.

Sevilla didn’t take long to even matters though, when a salmon like leap from Kanouté nodded the ball to recent Spanish call up, Jesus Navas, who fired the ball across the Athletic goal and out of Iraizoz’s reach.

Jesús Navas and Javi Martínez fight it out for possession

With the scoreboard reading one all Athletic slowly began to control the game, playing some beautiful stuff in spells. Iker Muniain in particular shined in midfield and continued to show why he is being touted as one of La Liga and Spain’s brightest young prospects. Sevilla’s only chance after equalising in the first half came when Negredo hopefully struck from distance, without really troubling the keeper.

Marcelino’s men came out for the restart more determined and with more physical intent: hassling and pressuring their visitors far more effectively than they had done. The Athletic back line was tested on a number of occasions as ball after ball was played in behind them in search of danger man Negredo.

The more Sevilla attacked though, the more menacing Athletic seemed, as Fernando Llorente and Ander Herrera both threatened the home team’s goal mouth on the break.

The winner came with 20 minutes to go, when Emir Spahic made a haymes of a pass, with the ball ending up at Muniain’s feet. The on fire 19 year old took full advantage of the mistake, finding De Marcos running in behind the back line who managed to poke the ball under the on rushing Javi Varas and run on to finish the move with the simplest of tap ins.

Sevilla attempted to get back into the game by playing a very high line for the remainder but Athletic were defended solidly and were able to see out the game as winners.

Athletic’s transition from it’s long held “British approach” of long-ball physicality to the more dynamic and thoughtful style of Bielsa took a while to get going but seems to be well and truly embedded now, as was shown two weeks ago against Barcalona and again tonight in the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

Sevilla 1 Atheltic Bilboa 2: Iroala (5), Navas (14), De Marcos (70)