Athletic Bilbao lose 3-1 to Marseille in preseason friendly
Athletic Bilbao suffered a 3-1 defeat against Marseille in a preseason friendly at the Velodrome. Brazilian forward Igor Paixao, a £43 million target for Leeds United, stole the show with a stunning goal.
What happened in the match?
Marseille took an early lead through Angel Gomes. Athletic Bilbao equalized via Oscar Sancet, but Paixao restored the French side’s advantage with a long-range strike. The Basque team, currently without Andoni Gorosabel and Dani Vivian due to injuries, couldn’t respond, and Marseille sealed the win with a late third goal.
Why it matters for Athletic Bilbao
The match served as a test for Ernesto Valverde’s side, which aims to improve its offensive play. Despite the loss, the game provided an opportunity to assess the players’ fitness ahead of the LaLiga season.
What comes next for Athletic Bilbao?
Athletic Bilbao will continue their preseason preparations with more friendlies before their LaLiga debut. The team must recover from injuries to Gorosabel and Vivian to strengthen their defense for the upcoming challenges.
