Athletic lose a man on 11 minutes, then spend 79 more chasing Sevilla
Yuri Berchiche was sent off before the quarter-hour. Athletic still had 65% of the ball and 18 shots — and Sevilla, with seven, scored three of them.
Eleven minutes into Athletic Club's season, Yuri Berchiche fouled Miguel Sierra and was shown a red card. Everything else followed from that.
Oso put Sevilla ahead four minutes later. Chidera Ejuke made it two on 50, Isaac Romero three on 57, and Aitor Paredes' goal on 70 was a consolation rather than a comeback.
The ten men had the ball; the eleven had the goals
This is the strange part. Athletic, a man down for 79 minutes, finished with 65% possession, 18 shots to Sevilla's seven, 10 corners to three and 1.25 expected goals to 0.41. Sevilla's goalkeeper made six saves.
Sevilla defended deep, cleared 46 times, and took their chances: four shots on target, three goals. Two matches, two wins, and a 90+7 penalty against Rayo the week before — this is not a team winning things comfortably, but it is a team winning them.
Match facts
- 11' — Yuri Berchiche (Athletic Club) sent off
- 15' — Oso (Sevilla)
- 50' — Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla)
- 57' — Isaac Romero (Sevilla)
- 70' — Aitor Paredes (Athletic Club)
| Stat | Athletic Club | Sevilla |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 65% | 35% |
| Total shots | 18 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 8 | 4 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.25 | 0.41 |
| Accurate passes | 422 (82%) | 208 (73%) |
| Corners | 10 | 3 |
| Offsides | 0 | 3 |
| Fouls committed | 11 | 16 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 5 |
| Red cards | 1 | 0 |
| Saves | 2 | 6 |
What's next
Sevilla end matchday 2 top of LaLiga on six points, the only side in Spain with a perfect record. Athletic start theirs on zero, with a suspension to serve and a performance that was better than the scoreline suggests.
Picks for you
Advertising. Affiliate links — we may earn a commission on your purchases, at no extra cost to you. It does not influence our editorial coverage.
Keep reading
International FootballHull City 2-0 Manchester United: 72% of the ball, and not one thing to show for it
Two set pieces from Regan Slater, two goals before half-time, and Hull's first league win over Manchester United since 1974. United had 21 shots and 71.5% possession. They also had nothing.
International FootballEverton 2-0 Crystal Palace: Palace hit the woodwork twice, Everton hit the net twice
Crystal Palace had 58% of the ball, four big chances and an xG of 2.04. They lost 2-0. Dewsbury-Hall and Barry scored, Pickford saved what needed saving, and Everton won on opening weekend for the first time in five years.
International FootballJack Clarke comes off the bench at Portman Road and beats the club he used to score for
Two Sunderland giveaways, two Ipswich goals. Emersonn punished the first, Jack Clarke — a Sunderland player not long ago — punished the second at 90. Gary O'Neil starts his Ipswich tenure with three points and seven new signings in the XI.