In an exciting encounter held this Saturday at San Mamés, Athletic Bilbao claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Atlético de Madrid. The only goal of the match was netted by Álex Berenguer in the 84th minute, following a brilliant assist from Nico Williams.
Berenguer’s stunning strike from the semicircle of the penalty area found the back of the net, securing the win for the Lions. He was undeniably the star of the match, contributing not only with his decisive goal but also with 15 key passes and two shots on target.
Nico Williams also made significant contributions, completing 27 successful passes and attempting three shots at goal, showcasing his playmaking abilities.
Coach Ernesto Valverde opted for a 4-5-1 formation with Unai Simón guarding the goal; the defensive line was comprised of Jesús Areso, Aitor Paredes, Aymeric Laporte, and Yuri Berchiche. The midfield featured Iñigo Ruiz, Mikel Jauregizar, Álex Berenguer, Oihan Sancet, and Nico Williams, while Gorka Guruzeta took the role of the sole striker.
On the opposite end, Atlético Madrid, under Diego Simeone, lined up in a 4-4-2 setup with Jan Oblak in goal, supported by Nahuel Molina, Marc Pubill, Clément Lenglet, and Dávid Hancko in defense. The midfield was bolstered by Giuliano Simeone, Conor Gallagher, Pablo Barrios, and Nicolás González, with Thiago Almada and Julián Álvarez leading the attack.
The referee for the match, Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, ensured a fair contest throughout.
After this victory, Athletic Bilbao climbed to 23 points, positioning themselves in seventh place. Atlético remains with 31 points, holding onto fourth place in the league standings.
Substitutions for Athletic Bilbao
32’ 1T – Aymeric Laporte was replaced by Dani Vivian. 81’ 2T – Oihan Sancet came off for Urko Izeta and Jesús Areso was substituted by Andoni Gorosabel.
Yellow Cards for Athletic Bilbao:
13’ 1T Mikel Jauregizar (Unsporting behavior), 19’ 1T Iñigo Ruiz (Unsporting behavior), and 27’ 1T Aymeric Laporte (Unsporting behavior).
Substitutions for Atlético de Madrid
45’ 2T – Conor Gallagher was removed for Koke. 61’ 2T – Clément Lenglet was substituted by Matteo Ruggeri, and Thiago Almada was replaced by Alexander Sorloth. 65’ 2T – Julián Álvarez came off for Antoine Griezmann, Iñigo Ruiz for Alejandro Rego, and Gorka Guruzeta for Unai Gómez. 71’ 2T – Nicolás González was substituted for Giacomo Raspadori.
Yellow Cards for Atlético de Madrid:
11’ 1T Conor Gallagher (Unsporting behavior) and 48’ 2T Koke (Unsporting behavior).
Athletic Bilbao will next face Celta in an away match, while Atlético Madrid will host Valencia.