Second half woes haunting Athletic as derby looms
Bilbao's concerning trend of conceding late goals threatens to undermine their season, with defensive frailties particularly evident after the break.
Athletic Club’s defensive struggles after the half-time whistle have become a worrying pattern that could derail their season, particularly with a crucial Basque derby against Real Sociedad on the horizon.
Concerning second-half statistics
The numbers paint a grim picture for Los Leones:
- A whopping 19 goals conceded in second halves across La Liga this season
- Three of those goals coming in stoppage time
- Only 9 goals scored after the break - a significant imbalance
- Zero goals scored in second-half stoppage time
This troubling trend was on full display in their recent Champions League exit, where Sporting Portugal put two past them in the second half, including one in stoppage time. It’s becoming a bit of a nightmare for Ernesto Valverde’s men - they’re about as reliable after the break as a chocolate teapot.
Derby day dangers
Sunday’s Basque derby presents a particularly worrying challenge given these second-half frailties. Real Sociedad have shown themselves to be proper second-half specialists:
- They’ve scored exactly 19 goals after the break - matching Athletic’s concession rate
- La Real have conceded 16 in the same period
As Rego put it: “The derby is a match marked on the calendar. It’s more than three points and we have to go out ready to die for it.”
Injury concerns mounting
The situation is made more complicated by a growing injury list:
- Iñaki Williams is confirmed to miss the derby
- Vivian remains doubtful after a muscle overload
- Sancet awaits medical tests following a Champions League injury
There is a potential boost with Laporte possibly returning to the squad after being sidelined since December with a muscle tear. The Spain international has been training outdoors alongside Nico Williams, suggesting a return could be imminent.
With a Copa del Rey quarter-final against Valencia looming, Athletic desperately need to sort their second-half performances to avoid their season falling to pieces. Right now, they’re in danger of being the team that’s all mouth and no trousers after the break.