Athletic’s Resilient Performance in Bergamo

The Athletic Club’s response in Bergamo was galvanized by Guruzeta’s equalizer. The Donostiarra player scored to bring the match to 1-1, followed by goals from Nico Serrano and Robert Navarro. This lead provided a buffer against Atalanta’s initial strike and allowed Athletic to maintain their advantage, even as the Italians narrowed the gap six minutes before the end. Guruzeta now sets his sights on achieving a full tournament experience: securing qualification on Wednesday and becoming the club’s top scorer in the competition.

Guruzeta has netted four goals in this initial phase of the tournament. This impressive tally positions him in a strong race to become the leading scorer for Athletic in a tournament format that now includes an initial stage of 8 matches, expanding beyond the previous league structure and significantly exceeding the eliminatory format used in prior years. According to UEFA statistics, Guruzeta is just one goal shy of Artetxe’s five goals, while surpassing both Aduriz and Merodio, who each scored three.

“The 1-1 goal kept us alive and fueled our belief in a comeback,” he reflected. A victory against Sporting de Portugal would secure Athletic’s place in the knockout stages, while a draw would necessitate favorable outcomes elsewhere. However, the players are reluctant to get ahead of themselves regarding the Champions League. “The match on Saturday against Sevilla at the Pizjuán is more important than the one on Wednesday against Sporting. The league is our most crucial competition, and we are not performing as we would like. Still, on Wednesday, playing at San Mamés will always provide us with a significant advantage,” he emphasized.

The forward will miss the match at Pizjuán this Saturday due to a suspension following his expulsion in Mallorca. He will rest in the league but aims to return in peak condition for the encounter with Sporting de Portugal. Guruzeta expressed that the experience against Atalanta serves as motivation: “This is the Athletic we want to see, the one we have witnessed over the past two years. This season, we have faced many defeats at San Mamés, which is unusual for us. I hope this serves as a reminder of how we need to approach our games, and I wish for the recovery of those in Bilbao because we need them,” he stated.