Athletic Bilbao Held to Goalless Draw Against Mallorca Despite Man Advantage
MADRID (AP) — Athletic Bilbao was unable to secure a victory on Monday, playing to a 0-0 draw against Mallorca, even though they had a numerical advantage for over an hour. The match turned when Mallorca’s Portuguese midfielder Samú Costa received his second yellow card in the 23rd minute, following a tackle that earned him his first booking.
Despite dominating possession and play following the red card, Bilbao struggled to convert their chances into goals. Nico Williams had a goal disallowed for offside just before halftime, and later saw another effort denied by a video review. His brother Iñaki also faced disappointment as his attempt was ruled offside 15 minutes from full time. Notably, Nico Williams struck the crossbar with a curling shot, further highlighting Bilbao’s struggle to find the back of the net.
As a result of the draw, Bilbao has maintained an unbeaten streak since August and climbed to fifth place in La Liga with 18 points from 11 matches. Mallorca shares the same points total but sits just behind in seventh place on goal difference, trailing Real Betis.
The stalemate left both teams seeking more in their upcoming matches as they aim to climb higher in the competitive La Liga standings.
With the home support behind them, Mallorca managed to preserve their record at home, while Bilbao’s resilience suggests they remain a formidable contender in the league this season as they seek to improve their scoring form.
For more soccer coverage, visit AP Sports online.
Source
Photo credit wtop.com