Athletic Bilbao boss Gaizka Garitano thanks ‘unbelievable’ fans after late victory

Athletic Club Bilbao won their first La Liga match in 14 attempts thanks to Aritz Aduriz’s last-minute penalty at home to Girona.

The veteran striker’s Panenka penalty in the final minute earned the Basque giants their first victory since the opening day of the campaign.

Substitute Iker Muniain was felled in the box and VAR confirmed it was a penalty, giving Gaizka Garitano – who had replaced Eduardo Berizzo – a winning start in the dugout.

“These are three important points, but this is going to be very long,” Garitano told reporters after the match, as cited by Marca.

“I want to thank our fans for all their support, that has pushed us a lot, it has strengthened us, I also believe that the team has transmitted a lot of this back to our unbelievable fans.

“The fans are crucial to this club, they push us on.”

Athletic – the only founding team of Spain’s top flight never to be relegated, alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid – are now behind 17th-placed Villarreal on goal difference only.

Tags Athletic Club Athletic Club Bilbao Gaizka Garitano
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