Athletic Club needed less than three second-half minutes to break Atletico Madrid open and never looked back, running out convincing 3-0 winners at San Mames. Nico Williams struck just seconds after the restart, Robert Navarro doubled the lead two minutes later, and Oihan Sancet wrapped things up at the death. Diego Simeone’s side dominated possession at 62% and mustered 15 shots, but their afternoon collapsed the moment Athletic turned the screws after half-time.
Key Moments
- 39′, Lee Kang-In picked up a yellow card for a foul, adding to Athletic’s defensive resolve going into the break.
- 45′, Yeray was replaced by Aitor Paredes at half-time, a tactical reshuffle that proved immaterial as Athletic immediately seized control after the interval.
- 46′, Nico Williams broke the deadlock almost straight from kick-off in the second half, finishing to put Athletic ahead.
- 48′, Robert Navarro made it 2-0, converting after being set up by Iñaki Williams to effectively end the contest within two minutes of the opener.
- 59′, Simeone threw on four substitutes simultaneously, including Álvarez and Koke, in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.
- 90′, Oihan Sancet added the third late on, capping a dominant second-half display for Athletic Club.
Tactical Breakdown
On paper, Atletico controlled this game. They had 62% possession, completed 571 passes to Athletic’s 314, and generated 15 shots. Yet Athletic’s 4-2-3-1 was built to absorb and hurt on the counter, and that is precisely what happened. With just 38% of the ball, Athletic kept their shape through Benat Gerenabarrena and Ruiz de Galarreta sitting deep, freeing Nico Williams and Iñaki Williams to threaten in behind a high Atletico defensive line. Goalkeeper Unai Simon made five saves to hold the scoreline level at half-time, and the platform that created was decisive.
The turning point came at half-time, when Athletic’s substitution of Yeray for Aitor Paredes stabilized their backline and allowed the team to press higher at the start of the second period. Within 48 minutes the match was over as a contest. Fotmob described it as ‘a second-half blitz,’ and that is accurate. Simeone responded by burning all five substitutions between the 58th and 76th minutes, but restructuring a 4-4-2 mid-match against a side already two goals up proved futile.
Atletico’s attacking quartet of Lee Kang-In, Ademola Lookman, Giuliano Simeone and Alex Baena produced plenty of lateral movement but offered almost nothing in behind Athletic’s block. Lookman, who lasted only 58 minutes, was particularly toothless, finishing as the lowest-rated outfield Atletico starter. The visitors hit nine shots off target and had only one save from Oblak all afternoon, which tells the story of how little sustained threat they actually carried in the final third.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
Athletic Club move to seven points and look considerably more settled than their early-season inconsistency suggested, while Atletico remain sixth on seven points but with a performance that will concern Simeone heading into their next fixture. The 3-0 scoreline somewhat flatters Athletic given Atletico’s possession figures, but it is the goals that count, and the Basque side took their chances with clinical efficiency. For Simeone, the manner of the defeat, conceding three times inside a 45-minute window after half-time while his side had the lion’s share of the ball, points to deeper structural concerns.