Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 Athletic Bilbao: Bittersweet Win As Filipe Fractures Leg

Posted Sunday, January 24, 2010 by Goal.com

Deportivo La Coruna claimed a tight win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night, in a game that was marred by a horrific injury to Filipe Luis.
Both sides went into the game fielding their strongest possible lineups, with Rodolfo Bodipo leading the line for Depor, while Gaizka Toquero and Fernando Llorente did likewise for Bilbao.

With both sides so cloe together on the table, an even contest was expected, but it was the visitors who started the brightest. Llorente tested Daniel Aranzubia out with a couple of early efforts, before Toquero had a goal ruled out for a very marginal offside.

The hosts were making life tough for themselves, and Llorente was gifted another opportunity when an errant back pass found its way into his path, only for him to fire wide. 'El Rey Leone' was causing havoc, but his finishing left something to be desired, as he headed Andoni Iraola's cross wide.

Athletic continued to boss the encounter, but while they were shutting Depor out of the game, they were struggling to seriously test Aranzubia at the other end. However, just before the break, Yeste floated a free-kick in, and Javi Martinez's deflection looked to have beaten the keeper, only for him to tip it behind at the last second. Thus the first hald ended goal-less, despite the visitors monopolizing possession for the entire period.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first, with Llorente volleying over after being teed up by Toquero. However, as the visitors might have feared, it was the hosts who soon took the lead, in bizarre circumstances. Bodipo's looping header was fumbled by Iraizoz, leaving Filipe Luis to bundle the ball home. However, he received a sickening blow in the collision, causing him to be stretchered off with a fractured right leg. It was a horrifying sight, leaving most in the stadium covering their eyes.

Depor were buoyed by the goal, and Bodipo should have increased the lead soon after, but he failed to connect with Manuel Pablo's cross. Seconds later, Pablo Alvarez was in a similar position, but could only head straight at Iraizoz. However, the pressure soon told, as Juca's drive following a great backheel from Adrian took a lucky deflection and looped over the keeper.

As time wore on, Athletic were still struggling to create chances, with a feeble Llorente effort not troubling Aranzubia. Then, with just over ten minutes remaining, they were handed a lifeline when Diego Colotto turned Iraola's cross into his own net.

Depor were rattled and seemed on the verge of conceding a late equalizer, but then, on the stroke of full time, Pablo Alvarez tapped home Juan Valeron's cross to seal the win. Thus Depor climb into fourth, pending other results, but the night will be remembered for what could be a seriously damaging blow to their star Brazilian defender.