Athletic Club 4-1 Cadiz – Betting Review
Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 market first. The favourites Athletic Club ran out deserved winners in this market but 4-1 doesn’t tell the full story. The home side won for their backers @ 1.38.
Moving onto the Asian handicap market for this contest. I felt that the Basques look flattered with a handicap of -1.25 @ 1.88, but Athletic managed to beat that with plenty to spare in the end. In reality, however, the margin of the win massively flattered them, something Valverde admitted in the post-game interview.
Looking at The Under/Over goal betting last of all. The line had risen from 2.25 up to 2.5 the day before kick-off, indicating the punters were bullish about the prospect of goals. With hindsight, they were correct as the game didn’t only have goals, but started extremely attacking-minded and open, with chances at both ends. Over 2.5 won @ 2.15.
Match Summary
Thanks to a stunning Oihan Sancet hat-trick and with a little help from the woodwork, a previously goal-shy Athletic Bilbao cruised to a 4-1 home victory over Cádiz.
The visitor reacted well to going a goal down early and had large parts of the game. They’d hit the post in the first half but once they did get level, were punished for amateur defending to go 2-1 behind.
By the break, it was 3-1 which led to a 2nd half where Cadiz dominated but failed to score when on top. Cadiz hit the inside of the post not before the then 10-man Athletic got a brilliant 4th goal on a break, very much against the run of play. The result is flattering for Athletic. Fair score 3-2
The victory sees the Basque club end their three-game losing streak in La Liga and thanks to other results going their way over the weekend, they jumped back into the top-four race.
Athletic Club was on the front foot and all over the visitors from the first kick. With boisterous support, the host poured the pressure on and it took Sancet just 10 minutes to capitalise on the pressure.
The midfielder’s shot from the edge of the box flew in at the near post to make it 1-0, a deserved lead early lead. The home side was knocked down off their perch a short time later though, as Gonzalo Escalante tapped in after excellent work down the left side from Ocampo.
From a Cadiz amateur defending and possession in their own box, Sancet slotted home his second on the night. This changed the game as it had been flat and even before the goal.
Astonishingly, Athletic then got another goal just before the half time whistle, when Yeray headed in a free-kick.
Cadiz had much more of the play in a one-sided second half.
The host absorbed pressure but when Yuri Berchiche received his second yellow card of the night, his side was left to deal with increasing Cadiz danger in the final third of the contest.
Against the run of play and having survived several chances including one that hit the inside of the post, man of the match Sancet wrapped up his hat-trick in the final 15 minutes.
