Athletic goals at the death in 2020-21

Athletic Club never gives up and this season’s statistics reflect that sentiment. That never-say-die attitude is a symbolic feature of this side.

So far this season, the Lions have scored 16 goals after the 75th minute, 18 if you include the Copa and Supercopa extra-times.

What’s more, out of those 16 late strikes, 10 have had a direct impact on the result. Six have been enough to guarantee a win and four have led to a draw.

Unai López kicked off this remarkable pattern when Athletic beat SD Eibar 1-2 on LaLiga matchday 3 for our first win of the season. The central midfielder scored the second of his two goals that game in the 87th minute, ensuring the Lions took home all three points.

Striker Iñaki Williams sealed our second LaLiga win of the campaign when he scored in the 79th minute against Levante UD. Captain Iker Muniain and Oihan Sancet led a late fight-back against Sevilla at San Mamés, scoring in the 76th and 86th minute respectively as Athletic overturned a 0-1 deficit. Williams pulled one back against Real Vallodolid at the Jose Zorilla in November, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Athletic from falling to defeat.

In December, a Raúl García penalty at Mestalla versus Valencia saw Athletic take a 1-2 lead 12 minutes from time. Unfortunately, Manu Vallejo drew the home side level seven minutes later, meaning the Lions picked up just one point.

Forward Kenan Kodro was the catalyst behind Athletic’s win over SD Huesca at San Mamés. Kodro took to the field in the 65th minute with the score at 0-0. He won and converted a penalty in the 86th minute, before centre-back Unai Nuñez secured victory in stoppage-time.

During Marcelino’s first match in charge, Muniain drew one back for Athletic in the 90th minute, but it wasn’t enough to overturn FC Barcelona’s lead, with the Catalans winning 2-3.

In January, the Lions kept up their late charges with last-minute goals in the Super Cup and the Copa del Rey. Powerful striker Asier Villalibre was Athletic’s saviour with a 90th-minute goal that took Athletic into extra-time during their victorious Supercopa final win over FC Barcelona.

In the Copa visit to Can Misses (Ibiza), Nuñez sent Athletic through to the round of 16 with an injury-time header. In the following LaLiga fixture, the Lions scored for fun against Getafe, with Oscar de Marcos and Alex Berenguer netting in the 75th and 82nd minute of a 5-1 win.

Williams scored against Alcoyano in the 78th minute in the Copa del Rey round of 16. And Raúl García scored a historic 94th-minute header at the Benito Villamarín against Betis to force extra-time and send Athletic through to the Copa semi-finals.

Winger Alex Berenguer closes out the list. His recent left-footed stunner in the 91st minute ensured the Lions defeated Granada CF 2-1 at San Mamés last week.

Bonus: extra-time strikes

Extra-time goals from Williams in the Super Cup final and Berenguer in the Copa semi-final are further examples of the tenacity of Marcelino’s side. The two goals had a direct influence on two of Athletic’s most important achievements this season: winning the Super Cup and qualifying for the final of the Copa del Rey 2020-21.

Goals scored after the 75th minute in 2020-21

• Unai López – SD Eibar 1-2 Athletic Club (MD3 LaLiga, 87′)
• Williams – Athletic Club 2-0 Levante UD (MD6 LaLiga, 79′)
• Muniain – Athletic Club 2-1 Sevilla FC (MD8 LaLiga, 79′)
• Sancet – Athletic Club 2-1 Sevilla FC (MD8 LaLiga, 86′)
• Williams – Real Valladolid 2-1 Athletic Club (MD9 LaLiga, 86′)
• Raúl García – Valencia CF 2 – 2 Athletic Club (MD13 LaLiga, 78′)
• Kodro – Athletic Club 2-0 SD Huesca (MD14 LaLiga, 86′)
• Nuñez – Athletic Club 2-0 SD Huesca (MD14 LaLiga, 91′)
• Muniain – Athletic Club 2-3 FC Barcelona (MD2 LaLiga 90′)
• Villalibre – FC Barcelona 2-3 Athletic Club (Supercopa, final 90′)
• Williams – FC Barcelona 2-3 Athletic Club (Supercopa, final 93′)*
• Nuñez – UD Ibiza 1-2 Athletic Club (R.32 Copa, 91′)
• Berenguer – Athletic Club 5-1 Getafe FC (MD20 LaLiga, 75′)
• De Marcos – Athletic Club 5-1 Getafe FC (MD20 LaLiga, 82′)
• Williams – Alcoyano 1-2 Athletic Club (R.16 Copa, 78′)
• Raúl García – Real Betis-1-1 Athletic Club (QF Copa, 94′)
• Berenguer – Levante 1-2 Athletic Club (SF Copa, 112′)*
• Berenguer – Athletic 2-1 Granada CF (MD26 LaLiga, 91)

*Goals scored in extra-time