Athletic Bilbao delivered a stunning performance on Sunday, securing a resounding 7-1 victory over last-placed Real Valladolid during the 25th round of La Liga EA Sports. The result cements Athletic’s position firmly among the top competitors, as they strive for a high finish this season.
Right from the start at the San Mamés Stadium, the Lions asserted their dominance. Mikel Jauregizar opened the floodgates early on, scoring just 10 minutes after kickoff. His effort, which deflected off the right post and rippled the net, set the tone for the match.
By the 35th minute, Nico Williams added to the tally, taking on multiple defenders before finding the back of the net with precision. Athletic continued to press, and before heading to the locker room, Maroan Sannadi scored the third goal followed by Oihan Sancet’s volley, bringing the score to 4-0 by halftime.
Despite being down, Real Valladolid came out with renewed vigor after the break. Mamadou Sylla netted their only goal two minutes after the restart, momentarily igniting hopes of a comeback. His efforts did little to shift the momentum, as Athletic regained control quickly.
Valladolid's struggles were compounded when midfielder Stanko Juric was shown his second yellow card for fouling Sancet, reducing the visitors to ten men. Athletic took full advantage of this numerical superiority. Nico Williams struck again, slamming home a sensational shot from outside the box to extend the lead to five goals.
Three minutes later, Gorka Guruzeta tapped the ball home after receiving it from his teammate, Iñaki Williams, who added the finishing touch to the goal fest at the 87th minute with his fifth goal of the season.
This remarkable display of football not only marks Athletic's 16th consecutive match without defeat but also solidifies their place within the top four of La Liga, with aspirations of moving higher. With the victory, they now stand at 48 points, six points adrift of the top spot, and continue their push for what fans hope could be their first league title in over four decades.
For Real Valladolid, the defeat is yet another blow to their morale. They’ve now suffered six consecutive losses and remain at the bottom of the league table with just 15 points, posing serious worries about relegation. Their new head coach Álvaro Rubio faces the difficult task of rekindling the team’s spirit, remarking, "We have to act fast to get our team away from the foot of LaLiga." With the pressure mounting, improvement is imperative.
With several standout performances, particularly from Nico Williams, who was named Man of the Match for his two goals, Athletic Bilbao has demonstrated their prowess. They’ll be hoping to maintain this momentum in the matches to come as they look to ascend the league standings. The fans left San Mamés gasping for breath, celebrating what was undoubtedly one of the most glorious afternoons for the club this season.