Athletic player ratings v Villarreal, Yuri excels as Lekue endures tough night | OneFootball

El Correo’s player ratings from Athletic’s meeting with Villarreal made Yuri the standout with eight, his cross creating Guruzeta’s goal. Lekue endured a difficult night, rated two and withdrawn at half-time, while Unai Simón earned six for key saves.

Simón denied Guaye after a quarter of an hour, then stopped a Gerad Moreno header. Vivian, back alongside Laporte, threw himself into challenges as Marcelino’s team threatened on the break.

Cardona arrived unmarked into the box and Alfon applied the finish in first-half stoppage time. For the first goal, Iñaki Williams did not track Cardona. Lekue’s error led to Villarreal’s second, letting the ball bounce and allowing Alfon to steal in.

Simón later produced another sharp stop from Buchanan. Laporte attacked set pieces and had a late penalty appeal turned down in the final action.

Villarreal’s press smothered Galarreta, rated four, and Jauregizar, five, for much of the first half, though Jauregizar went close in the 38th minute with a deflected effort wide of Júnior Luiz’s post. Sancet, rated two, struggled to influence play. Nico, on five, repeatedly ran at Mouriño but looked short of rhythm despite showing spark.

Guruzeta, rated five, scored Athletic’s only goal by getting across his marker, and also sent a tame first-half header from a Galarreta cross off target. The captain Iñaki Williams, on three, offered little and was booed when substituted. Late changes saw Rego replace Galarreta, Berenguer for Sancet, Navarro for Nico and Serrano for Iñaki Williams.

Source: El Correo