Terzic’s Athletic still hasn’t won over San Mamés

Terzic’s Athletic still haven’t fully connected with San Mamés, at least in the feeling left by this latest home match. As Mundo Deportivo reports, Alavés only truly sensed the “shockwave” when the stands in La Catedral erupted in unison around the 62nd minute, with the game already drifting toward the visitor’s preferred script.

Loud home support, little reward

The paper explains that Terzic made changes shortly before that moment, bringing on Berenguer and Maroan in an attempt to spark the team. But the key never arrived: Yuri’s effort was kept out by Sivera, and a penalty—awarded after a foul by Tenaglia on Nico Williams—ended with Sancet missing/being denied, cutting short the stadium’s momentum. Within just a little over five minutes, the local “assault” never materialized.

The problem: Athletic without space

Mundo Deportivo points back to a recent precedent in Mendi at the end of last season (May 2), when Athletic were at their most dangerous with room to run. That day Sancet and Nico Williams broke the Alavés defense and the match finished 2-4.

This time, the Alavés started with a back five, three midfielders, and two forwards ahead—enough to contain an Athletic attack that lacked arrival and punch. Terzic rotated options, adding Areso, then Berenguer and Maroan, later Canales, and finally debutant Nico Serrano, who nearly struck late when Alavés were already in a 5-4-1.

The piece also notes that Djaló didn’t get minutes despite being one of the most notable signings in the club’s recent history. It ends with comments that underline the mood: Terzic, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, said he was disappointed with what he saw, and Laporte regretted that if the penalty had gone in, “the match would have turned.”