Nico Williams, and the goal that decided the matchand Julen Agirrezabala, with several stops from shots and shots of many guests, defeated Slavia Prague in San Mamés, who were good and deserved to win.
It was thwarted by a lucky goal from Nico Williams, a speedy forward, with a shot from the edge of the area that David Zima made a save for goalkeeper Antonín Kinsky to block.
Although Agirrezabala did a lot, he did not stop disrupting the visitors’ chances, which they answered one by one until the Czech team failed to score.
Three points, in any case, are golden for Athletic, who are at the top of the table and, with 7 points from three games, are where they want to start in the highly anticipated Europa League on May 21 in San Mamés.
Slavia, in any case, confirmed all the fears of the red and white universe, which feared its power and the best moment that arrived in Bilbao.
At the beginning, Ernesto Valverde did not move the starting team beyond the return of Paredes after suspension against Espanyol and the entry of Prados, mainly the starter, in place of Jauregizar.
Jindrich Trpisovsky made many changes, four compared to his game on Sunday in the Czech league, to Sam Mamés and the open grave of Athletic. So that the lions could not leave their garden for a quarter of an hour.
Fifteen minutes in which the Czech team had three chances, all of which were converted by Agirrezabala. The worst was a powerful shot from Cameroon international Michez which was deflected for a corner.
Athletic tried to shake the control of the visitors, without success, but Nico appeared active, which Dorley took the ball that he had already held and crossed to Kinsky.
He insisted Nico in several shots that were also blocked by defenders and then it will be a penalty kick from Boril to Iñaki Williams which was later canceled by the referee after requesting VAR.
But Athletic and Nico had already recovered and took their chances to open the scoring. The world champion did just that with a forehand shot that hit Winter and eliminated Kinsky.
And the lions even threatened to fight where Zima fought against the competition of Iñaki, who did not finish well with a pass that was too long for his brother and Berenguer, both waiting for him in the area.
That 2-0 did not come and until half time the threat was 1-1 in the Czech siege which led to several events and two times with Provod and Michele. Both were successfully eliminated by Agirrezabal.
The second half started with another opportunity for those who are in green today. A great shot from Doudera went through the middle from the left of Provod and, this is clear, a shot from the edge of the area that the goalkeeper quickly did again.
Another arrival, completed by the central defender Zmrzly in a through ball that went wide, increased the feeling of superiority of the visitor and the need for Valverde to make a move.
And he did it but not as expected, since he chose Unai Gómez and Dajló, while the recovered Sancet and possibly the young Jauregizar were expected.
Trpikovsky, for his part, introduced the great Chory, another head of the red and white defense, which could not withstand. But he had the shield of Agirrezabal, which increased and continued to stand one after the other. Most impressive was one in which he denied Chory’s header from Zafeiris’ dead cross.
Slavia didn’t give up, which made the game painful for Athletic from start to finish. But Nico scored a lucky goal, Agirrezabala was the wall for the Czechs and the local team added three golden points.
