Draw Leaves Garitano Frustrated

Gaizka Garitano has praised the endeavour of his Athletic Bilbao players but was disappointed they could only draw 1-1 with Espanyol.

Los Leones went into Friday’s match at the San Mames having won three of their last four home games, a run that has helped them pull clear of the relegation zone in La Liga.

Indeed, Bilbao have not lost a league game on their own patch since suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Real Sociedad at the start of October, although they were in danger of seeing that unbeaten run come to an end when Facundo Ferreyra gave Espanyol a first-half lead.

It wasn’t until the 80th minute that Bilbao got themselves back on level terms thanks to a strike from Raul Garcia, who has now netted in four of his last six games.

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Garitano was pleased with the battling spirit his side showed to salvage something from the contest, although he was disappointed that they could not go on to secure all three points, particularly as that would have been enough to take them into the top half of the standings. “The effort has been incredible,” Garitano was quoted as saying by Marca.

“But I can not be happy even though I can not blame the players because they have given everything and they have emptied. “We can not be happy, but after starting losing we have focused a thousand times and we have taken risks to win.”