The return of Gurpegui

By: Elisa | April 30th, 2008

Match Report

As most everyone is aware, Athletic was decisively beaten at the Bernabeu 3 nil. I really don’t need to go into too much details. Suffice to say Armando had butterfingers on the first goal and practically gifted the goal to Madrid. No problem for El Conejo who finally got on the score sheet. Casillas, what can you say, had a blinder. Los Rojiblancos played a solid defensive game in the first half with some beautiful tackles: Iraola, Amorebieta and Gurpegui.

But we ran out of steam in the second half. It could have been entirely different, had Los Vascos capitalized on the spot kick in the 33nd minute. Hard to believe, but Casilas actually saved a penalty! Will wonders ever cease? Of course Garmendia made it easy for the Madridista in goal. Lame strike. Why oh why didn’t Exteberria take the pen?

In the 2nd half, Schuster’s substitutions clearly made the difference. Higuain and Robben linked up for the 2nd goal and our Basques boys just couldn’t keep up with the pace of the home team. Another away loss. Crap!
End of match report.

Odds and Ends

It was great to see Carlos Gurpegui return to first team football. Shame he wasn’t able to score on his return. Damn Casillas! Very close indeed!

Joseba Exteberria made history with the rojiblancos. He played his 414th game as an Athletic player. Congrats maestro! He is now equal with Athletic legend Rojo. Only Iribar has played more games with los Leones. 13 seasons with Athletic with 100 goals to date. 53 appearances with the Spanish National team. Yes he started with La Real when he was 17 and came over controversially to El Athletic for a record 3M Euros back in the day. But he only played 7 games with Real Sociedad’s first team.

One more season with El Gallo, before he retires from football.

A few words on the New San Mamés Stadium… The cost is estimated to be at least €180 million. The stadium will have an all-seater capacity of 56,000. The new stadium will be built next to the existing San Mamés. Three quarters of the new stadium will be built and then matches will take place in the new stadium, and the old one will be demolished. Part of the campus of the University of the Basque Country will be demolished to make way for the stadium.

Rumors…Rumors. Ajax is interested in our striker Fernando Llorente to replace Huntelaar who is on his way out. Llorente is only 23 years old and has a buy out clause of 30M Euros. Fernando has a contract until 2011 and has played with the club since he was 13 years old. Talk about your home grown players. First Urzaiz and now Llorente? Does Ajax have a thing for Vascos? I don’t think so!

Mallorca is our next rival in a very tough match at home. Gotta stop Guiza!

Let’s end this wrap up with a foto of the new San Mamés and some fotos to show that El Athletic is truly a family affair.

Hasta Luego~*