Neymar's absence wasn't a loud void, but it was definitely felt in the air. Training sessions continued as they always had, with routines intact and the tempo still sharp, yet something didn't feel right.
Without him, Tenerife lost more than just a forward; they lost a crucial reference point. Those moments when the game slowed down or tightened, when a single magical moment could change everything, suddenly lacked a natural outlet. Laurence Gonzales picked up on this right away, and rather than trying to fill Neymar's shoes directly, he spread the responsibility throughout the team.
The first real challenge came at San Mamés. Athletic Club played a brand of football that stripped the game down to its core—battles, second balls, and territorial pressure.
From the very start, Bilbao pressed hard, pushing their wide players high and forcing Tenerife to build their play under intense pressure. The noise alone was enough to throw off concentration, but the physicality only added to the challenge.
Laurence opted for a more cautious setup. Casemiro and Kanté formed a tight midfield duo, rarely straying far from each other. Behind them, Varane, Bellvis and Luna had straightforward instructions: clear the ball decisively, avoid overplaying, and trust Aragoneses when necessary.
Joel faced a tough time early on. Bilbao's full-backs were all over him, leaving him with barely any space to turn and receive the ball. Quaresma attempted to find some gaps, but those openings closed up almost immediately.
Every time Tenerife touched the ball, it felt like a battle, with every pass met by a challenge. The game turned into a series of fragmented moments, filled with short bursts of play and interruptions.
Bilbao had their opportunities. One header from a corner forced Aragoneses into a quick reflex save, and a low shot from outside the box late in the first half tested his positioning. Yet, Tenerife maintained their composure, rarely panicking or pushing too many players forward.
As the second half rolled on, not much changed. Bilbao kept pressing, while Tenerife focused on defending.
Laurence didn't make any early substitutions, satisfied with the balance his team had. He recognized the importance of securing a point in that situation, especially without Neymar.
When the final whistle blew, the 0–0 draw felt well-deserved rather than lucky. It might not have been a stylish performance, but it showed growth in their resilience.
Back on the island, the atmosphere was more subdued than it had been a few weeks prior. The team wasn't in dire straits, but they weren't exactly in top form either.
The upcoming match against Valencia was anticipated to provide a clearer picture of Tenerife's standing without their star player. Valencia arrived well-organized and confident, comfortable playing deeper and striking quickly on the counter.
Laurence stuck with the same attacking trio—Natalio in the center, Joel providing width, and Quaresma weaving through the lines.
Tenerife kicked off strong. Their pressing was well-coordinated, with wingbacks Robertson and Cancelo pushing high to create overloads. Joel found some early space, forcing Valencia's goalkeeper into two saves within the first half-hour. Natalio also came close, connecting with a cross for a glancing header that just missed the target.
The movement was there, the buildup was solid, but the finishing just wasn't sharp enough.
Valencia played it cool. They didn't rush things, content to let Tenerife have the ball in less threatening areas.
Then, just before the hour mark, they made their move. A quick transition down the right caught Tenerife a bit off guard.
The cross came in low and fast, and Soldado managed to get ahead of his marker to finish from close range. It was efficient, clinical, and tough to defend against.
In response, Laurence pushed Quaresma a bit higher up the pitch, urging for quicker vertical passes. The crowd grew louder, sensing the need for a shift in momentum.
Corners followed, along with a few half-chances, but Valencia's defensive shape held strong.
The equalizer came from a moment of clarity. A cleared corner landed at Quaresma's feet just outside the box. Instead of rushing the shot, he took a touch, opened his body, and curled the ball into the top corner.
It was spot on.
This point mattered. Not just for the standings, but for their confidence. They had to show that they could open games without Neymar.
The final match before Neymar was set to make his much-anticipated return took the team to Pamplona.
Osasuna was in a desperate fight for survival, and the winter chill at El Sadar was anything but welcoming. The cold wind whipped across the pitch, and the crowd made sure every tackle was met with loud cheers and jeers. Laurence decided to take a different approach this time.
Instead of pairing Casemiro with Kanté, he opted to trust Kanté as the sole holding midfielder. Starting ahead of him was Ricardo León, a choice that raised a few eyebrows. However, Laurence appreciated what León brought to the table in situations like this—he had a knack for controlling the tempo, understanding his positioning, and staying calm under pressure.
The wingbacks were given more freedom than they had in previous games.
Grimaldo and Cancelo pushed up the field, stretching Osasuna's defense and creating width right from the start. Joel and Natalio were told to stay high and keep the defenders occupied, even if they didn't get much service.
The match itself was more about control than outright dominance. Tenerife held onto the ball without rushing, patiently moving it around and waiting for Osasuna to make a move.
León quietly dictated the rhythm, deciding when to slow things down and when to pick up the pace. Kanté tirelessly covered ground behind him, intercepting passes and resetting the attacks.
Osasuna posed a threat now and then, mostly from set pieces, but they never really built up any sustained pressure. Aragoneses dealt confidently with the crosses, and Varane started to find his rhythm, reading the danger much earlier than he had in recent weeks.
The breakthrough finally came midway through the second half.
A recycled clearance landed at Joel's feet just outside the box. Without a moment's hesitation, he struck the ball cleanly and powerfully, sending it past the goalkeeper and into the net.
After the goal, Laurence made some practical substitutions to strengthen the midfield and tighten up the spaces. Tenerife managed the game professionally, limiting Osasuna to only speculative attempts and slowing the pace whenever they could.
The 1–0 victory felt important—not just because of the opponent, but because of the process. Over three matches without Neymar, Tenerife had managed to secure five points across three games.