Sports · Football · 4 hrs ago
Unai Simón stars as Athletic Bilbao win the Basque derby
Athletic Bilbao won their derby against Real Sociedad in a result the team said it badly needed.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón was named the derby's standout, after receiving an ovation when he showed fans his award as the world’s best goalkeeper.
Simón said he had tried to keep the week’s events in perspective and focus on the next match.
Athletic needed the points because teams near the bottom of the table were also collecting points.
Peio Canales and Gerenabarrena impressed in midfield, supporting coach Terzic’s decision to use the young players there.
Canales, who spent last season on loan at Racing, has been moved deeper from his usual attacking role and has responded well.
The win left Athletic proud and gave them points to assess their position in the standings.
Athletic Bilbao won the Basque derby against Real Sociedad, with goalkeeper Unai Simón named the standout performer.
Simón received an ovation before the match when he presented the trophy recognising him as the world’s best goalkeeper.
He said Athletic needed the points because teams near the bottom of the table were continuing to earn points.
Peio Canales and Gerenabarrena also stood out in midfield for Athletic.
Canales said the match was especially important after the week the team had experienced.
- Who
- Athletic Bilbao beat Real Sociedad, with Unai Simón standing out.
- What
- Athletic won the Basque derby.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- San Mamés is mentioned as the stadium where Simón presented his trophy; the match venue is not explicitly stated.
- Why
- Athletic needed the points as teams near the bottom of the table were continuing to earn points.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Simón received an ovation as he presented the trophy recognising him as the world’s best goalkeeper.
Simón was again applauded after Athletic’s derby win and was named the standout performer.
- Teams
- Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad
- Standout performer
- Unai Simón
- Stadium mentioned
- San Mamés
- Athletic midfielders highlighted
- Peio Canales and Gerenabarrena
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What people are saying
I wanted to bring normality to everything that happened during the week because football moves on and what you have achieved is worth nothing when matches pass.
We were already obliged because the teams below keep earning points and we needed these points to see where we can look in the table.
It was a very important match, especially coming after the week we had. You could see what it meant to us.