Sassuolo are out of the Europa League, but gave Athletic Bilbao quite a few scares in Bilbao in this 3-2 defeat.
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Sassuolo are out of the Europa League, but gave Athletic Bilbao quite a few scares in Bilbao in this 3-2 defeat.
Follow the action from all the Italian competitors in the Europa League on the LIVEBLOG.
The Neroverdi crushed Athletic 3-0 in the opening game of this group, but an injury crisis saw them pick up just two points from the next three matches. They made the prestigious trip to the San Mames without Domenico Berardi, Alfred Duncan, Stefano Sensi and Tim Letschert, while Matteo Politano was not 100 per cent fit either. The Bilbao club missed Ander Iturraspe and Oscar de Marcos, but could count on Spain stars Iker Muniain and Aritz Aduriz.
It was an extraordinary start, because Antonino Ragusa ran on to a Gregoire Defrel through ball and fired at the near post, where Iago Herrerin fumbled and Mikel Balenziaga inexplicably came sliding in to score an own goal.
The lead did not last long, because Raul Garcia leapt to nod in Etxebarria’s corner and draw Athletic level eight minutes later.
It was wide open and Ragusa’s curler skimmed the far post, while Andrea Consigli parried an Inaki Williams effort at the near stick. Williams also flashed a deflected shot just past the far top corner and Consigli got down to beat way an Iker Muniain daisy-cutter.
After the restart Ricci ran on to a slide-rule pass and Herrerin sprinted off his line to block, while Aduriz was booked for a very late and high tackle on Paolo Cannavaro.
Athletic put together over a dozen corners and eventually one paid off, as Yeray Alvarez flicked it on for Aduriz’s header from close range.
Herrerin needed a desperate save on Defrel after great work from Ricci and two Athletic defenders colliding in the middle. However, Sassuolo’s season has been dominated by injuries and it was no different at the San Mames. Almost simultaneously, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Davide Biondini went down and had to be replaced.
Athletic took control and Aduriz knocked on a long ball for Inigo Lekue, who beat the onrushing Consigli from a tight angle. It was a mistake for the goalkeeper to come off his line.
Sassuolo did get back into it moments later, because Matteo Politano’s cross didn’t quite reach Alessandro Matri, but on the rebound Ragusa volleyed in.
Ragusa turned a free header over from a corner, but at the other end Consigli collided with Francesco Acerbi only for Sabin Merino to incredibly fire wide of the open goal.
Athletic 3-2 Sassuolo
Balenziaga og 2 (S), Raul Garcia 10 (A), Aduriz 58 (A), Lekue 79 (A), Ragusa 83 (S)
Athletic: Herrerin; Lekue, Yeray Alvarez, Laporte, Balenziaga; San Jose, Benat Etxebarria; I Williams (Boveda 61), Raul Garcia, Muniain (Rico 72); Aduriz (Merino 88)
Sassuolo: Consigli; Lirola, Cannavaro, Acerbi, Gazzola; Biondini (Matri 71), Magnanelli, Pellegrini (Missiroli 70); Ricci, Defrel, Ragusa
Ref: Kassai (HUN)