Athletic’s Muniain forces La Liga leader Real Sociedad to settle for 1-1 draw
San Sebastian, Spain, Oct 31 (EFE).- La Liga leader Real Sociedad had to settle for a 1-1 draw against arch rival Athletic Bilbao on Sunday when the latter’s Iker Muniain scored in stoppage time after a tense contest before 37,076 fans at Reale Arena.
Athletic forward Iñaki Williams delivered the first fright to a perhaps over-confident home squad in the 2nd minute when he got hold of the ball in the area but couldn’t capitalize.
Imanol Alguacil’s side dominated play in the first half, with Alexander Isak almost scoring twice, but with the team unable to manufacture anything on the scoreboard. But finally in the 57th minute it was the Swede who got Real Sociedad on the board after a penalty called against Iñigo Martinez.
Marcelino’s Athletic kept probing and waiting for its chance, which finally came after Martinez was shown a second yellow card in the 84th minute, leaving the hosts a man short, whereupon team captain Iker Muniain drilled a fabulous free kick that got past goaltender Alex Remiro with just seconds remaining in the 92nd minute.
The result puts Real Sociedad back on top of the La Liga table, but they had been hoping right up until Muniain’s tally to get out in front of Real Madrid and Sevilla by a full three points.
Lineups:
Real Sociedad: Remiro; Gorosabel, Aritz, Le Normand, Rico (Muñoz, min. 78); Zubimendi, Silva (Guevara min 78), Merino; Isak (Lobete, min. 85), Sorloth (Portu, min. 65), Januzaj (Zubeldia, min. 78).
Athletic Bilbao: Simón; De Marcos (Nico Williams, min. 78), Alvarez, Iñigo Martínez, Lekue; Muniain, Berenguer (Petxarroman, min, 78), Dani Garcia (Nuñez, min. 86), Vencedor; Raul García (Sancet, min. 65), Iñaki Williams.
EFE
