This Monday, in a tightly contested match, the Lions triumphed over Rayo Vallecano during matchday 2 of the Liga, scoring 1-0. Oihan Sancet converted a penalty in the 65th minute to determine the outcome of the game.
Oihan Sancet was undoubtedly the standout player of the match. The Athletic Bilbao midfielder not only found the back of the net but also completed 10 successful passes throughout the game.
Another key performer at San Mamés was Mikel Jauregizar, who contributed significantly with 27 completed passes and registered 4 shots on target.
Coach Ernesto Valverde employed a 4-5-1 formation for Athletic Bilbao, positioning Unai Simón in goal; with Jesús Areso, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, and Yuri Berchiche forming the defense; while Iñigo Ruiz, Mikel Jauregizar, Iñaki Williams, Álex Berenguer, and Nico Williams operated in midfield, leaving Maroan Sannadi up front.
On the other hand, Iñigo Perez’s Rayo Vallecano also lined up in a 4-5-1 setup, featuring Augusto Batalla in goal; Andrei Ratiu, Florian Lejeune, Luiz Felipe, and Pep Chavarría in defense; Unai López, Pathé Ciss, Isaac Palazón, Pedro Díaz, and Álvaro García in midfield; and Jorge de Frutos leading the attack.
The referee overseeing the match was Juan Martínez Munuera.
Looking ahead, Athletic Bilbao will visit Real Betis in the next round, while Rayo Vallecano will host FC Barcelona at Estadio de Vallecas. The home side is positioned fourth in the league with 6 points, while the visitors have accrued 3 points, placing them eighth in the standings.
Substitutions for Athletic Bilbao
45’ 2T – Maroan Sannadi was substituted by Oihan Sancet
66’ 2T – Iñigo Ruiz was replaced by Beñat Prados
86’ 2T – Nico Williams went off for Unai Gómez while Álex Berenguer was substituted by Mikel Vesga
Substitutions for Rayo Vallecano
54’ 2T – Unai López was substituted by Gerard Gumbau and Pedro Díaz was replaced by Fran Pérez
78’ 2T – Isaac Palazón exited for Sergio Camello, Jorge de Frutos was swapped for Randy Nteka, and Iñaki Williams was replaced by Gorka Guruzeta
81’ 2T – Pep Chavarría was substituted for Óscar Trejo
Cautions for Rayo Vallecano:
21’ 1T – Andrei Ratiu (Holding an opponent to prevent advancement), 22’ 1T – Unai López (Unsporting behavior), 24’ 2T – Álvaro García (Unsporting behavior), 33’ 2T – Pep Chavarría (Unsporting behavior)