In a closely contested match on Sunday, Athletic Bilbao triumphed over Real Oviedo with a solitary goal, securing the victory in the 12th matchday of La Liga. Nico Williams found the back of the net in the 24th minute, marking the decisive moment of the encounter.
After a well-placed assist from Aymeric Laporte, Williams struck confidently, sending the ball past the visiting goalkeeper to give the home side the lead.
Williams emerged as the standout player of the match, not only scoring the crucial goal but also completing 24 successful passes. Álex Berenguer also played a vital role at San Mamés, contributing significantly with 21 accurate passes, winning back 2 balls, and taking 6 shots on goal.
Athletic Bilbao’s manager, Ernesto Valverde, deployed a 4-5-1 formation featuring Unai Simón in goal; Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Aymeric Laporte, and Yuri Berchiche in defense; and Iñigo Ruiz, Mikel Jauregizar, Álex Berenguer, Selton Sánchez, and Nico Williams in midfield, with Gorka Guruzeta leading the attack.
In contrast, Real Oviedo, under the guidance of Luis Carrión, also lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Aarón Escandell between the posts, and a defensive line composed of Nacho Vidal, David Costas, David Carmo, and Javi López. The midfield consisted of Leander Dendoncker, Santiago Colombatto, Federico Viñas, Alberto Reina, and Ilyas Chaira, with Salomón Rondón spearheading the attack.
The match official, César Soto Grado, oversaw a game that saw Athletic Bilbao rise to 7th place in the standings with 17 points, while Real Oviedo remains at the bottom with just 8 points.
Substitutions for Athletic Bilbao
63’ 2H – Selton Sánchez for Unai Gómez
72’ 2H – Nico Williams for Robert Navarro, Iñigo Ruiz for Alejandro Rego
83’ 2H – Gorka Guruzeta for Mikel Vesga, Álex Berenguer for Nicolás Serrano
Yellow Card for Athletic Bilbao
46’ 2H – Iñigo Ruiz (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for Real Oviedo
52’ 2H – Ilyas Chaira for Haissem Hassan
71’ 2H – Salomón Rondón for Pablo Agudín, Alberto Reina for Luka Ilic
84’ 2H – Santiago Colombatto for Alex Forés, Leander Dendoncker for Kwasi Sibo
Yellow Card for Real Oviedo
56’ 2H – Aarón Escandell (Unsporting behavior)
Looking ahead, Athletic Bilbao will face Barcelona in their next fixture, while Real Oviedo will host Rayo Vallecano at the Carlos Tartiere stadium.