In a rain-soaked San Mames, Athletic Bilbao fought to a 0-0 draw with Villarreal.
A tight and tense affair with chances at a premium, neither side could break the deadlock and both teams ended the match with 10 men after the ejections of Inaki Williams and Daniele Bonera.
Roberto Soldado had the best chances for the visitors in the second and the 86th minutes.
Played through on goal with a ball from Denis Suarez which sliced through the home side’s defence, Soldado was left one-on-one with an onrushing Gorka Iraizoz but the gloveman was able to get up high enough to spoil the Villarreal forward’s chip.
Deep into the second half and it was Soldado again with a chance to give his side the three points but he was denied by the home side’s custodian who stayed big at his near post.
In between the former Spanish international’s efforts, Bilbao fought hard and Williams had their best chances but could not convert as combined efforts of Villarreal’s defence and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola denied the young prodigy.
On the balance of play, neither side could complain with a point which leaves both teams where they started in sixth and fourth place respectively.
Williams makes noise while Aduriz stays silent
There was not a lot of action in the final third for either side as the ball spent most of the time between the midfields, or being hacked away in the trying conditions.
When the home side was looking for someone to make something happen, it turned to its 21-year-old forward who attempted to light up the night, while its 34-year-old talisman burned out.
Williams was a constant threat for Bilbao, going close on a number of occasions and seemingly having Jaume Costa beat at every turn. The Spanish under-21 international looked a danger with his direct running and quick feet and, were it not for some desperation defending from the away side, would have helped himself to goal.
It stark contrast to Williams’ youthful exuberance, Aritz Aduriz had one of his quietest games.
Everything worked against the forward in this match as his midfield struggled to get balls into dangerous areas due to the conditions. When they did he was so tightly watched by Victor Ruiz and Mateo Musacchio that he could have little impact on the game.
Villarreal did not enjoy the rain
With a pass accuracy percentage of just 66%, it was clear that the Yellow Submarine were having a hard time in the conditions.
Very little seemed to stick for the away side and it found it tough to carve out many clear-cut opportunities.
It all seemed to be going fine when Soldado attempted his chip in the second minute but that action woke up the home side which then engaged in the battle.
Villarreal could not get their swift counter-attacking football going in the wet and the game ended with the team in fourth place having only had two shots on goal.
While the back line stayed strong and made up for the more forward players’ inabilities, Villarreal will be hoping for much clearer conditions in the coming weeks.
Soldado needs to start scoring
For everything good Roberto Soldado brings to this Villarreal side, he is missing goals.
The 30-year-old has only three goals to his name this campaign and while he has also registered eight assists, he needs to add to that tally.
This game against Bilbao is a perfect example of Soldado’s season. Two clear opportunities, both fired at the goalkeeper, show his lack of belief in front of goal, but it was his incisive movement which carved out those chances.
There are a lot of positives to Soldado’s game but everything he does seems to have a yin-yang effect. Great positioning without any end product. Great passing but little shooting. Great hunger and passion but many fouls and yellow cards.
Soldado is a player any side would want simply for his desire but in such a lean run of goals it could cause Marcelino to take the forward out of his starting XI.
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