Athletic and Aste Nagusia

Aste Nagusia is back. After a three-year, pandemic-induced absence, Bilbao's festive week is back and it promises to be a special one this year.

Every year during the third week of August, the city of Bilbao switches into party mode. Aste Nagusia (Basque for ‘The Big Week’) is a week of fun and activities including concerts and theatre productions in addition to cultural and sporting events.

It is a period which means a lot to citizens of Bilbao and Athleticzales. What's more, Los Leones have enjoyed some unforgettable moments during Bilbao's Aste Nagusia.

To celebrate the festival's return, we decided to look back at some of the most iconic Athletic 'Big Week' matches since the turn of the century.

First up we’re heading back to August 26, 2001 and a comprehensive 1-3 away victory against Real Sociedad in the opening fixture of the LaLiga 2001/02 season. Striker Ismael Urzaiz scored a header from Julen Guerrero’s indirect free-kick to open the scoring, while Dmitri Khokhlov got an equaliser for Real Sociedad, meaning it was all even at the break.

After the restart, midfielder Tiko put Athletic 2-1 up with one of his classic Tikotazos. In the 81st minute, Urzaiz secured victory with a simple finish, ensuring Aste Nagusia 2001 ended on the perfect note.

The next stop is August 27, 2005. Same rival but this time at San Mamés. Athletic Club won 3-0 against a la Real side that held on until half-time. After the break, Fran Yeste got Los Rojiblancos up and running with a right-footed shot —a bit of a rarity for the natural left-footer. Target-man Fernando Llorente got the second and Luis Prieto added a third to see the Lions pick up all three points.

Aste Nagusia classics also include great European nights, one such evening took place in 2019. On this occasion, Norwegian side Tromsø IL made life extremely complicated for Athletic Club in the home-leg of the Europa League group stage play-offs.

The fixture took place on August 20, 2019, and the Lions -then coached by Joaquín Caparrós- won the match 3-2. Athletic Club twice had to come back from being a goal behind.

Morten Moldskred put the Norwegians ahead before midfielder Javi Martínez equalised from the penalty spot. As the match was coming to a close, the visiting side surprised keeper Gorka Iraizoz again, going 2-1 up in the 78th minute.

It was a critical situation, but Athletic were saved by goals from Oscar De Marcos (86′) and Fernando Llorente (90′). Los Rojiblancos went to Norway with a small advantage and qualified for the group phase after drawing 1-1 in Tromso.

On August 23, 2013, Athletic secured probably the most peculiar Aste Nagusia victory. With the new San Mamés still being prepared for its first game (September 15 against Celta Vigo), Athletic defeated 2-0 Osasuna… in Anoeta. The goals came courtesy of De Marcos and an own-goal by Alejandro Arribas. It was a second victory in as many games for the Lions, putting them top of the LaLiga table.

We’ve arrived to the night of August 19, 2014 and the away-leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off against Napoli. Athletic lined up against one of Europe’s best and managed a handy 1-1 draw.

It was playmaker Iker Muniain who got the all-important away goal three minutes before the break, with striker Gonzalo Higuain getting a 68th minute equaliser for the Italian side. Eight days later, Athletic qualifed for the group stage of the Champions League after beating Napoli 3-1 in Bilbao.

A last-minute goal always feels different. That’s exactly what happened on August 20, 2018, when Muniain scored an injury-time winner against CD Leganés (2-1) in the first game of the 2018/19 LaLiga season.

Earlier in the match, youngster Peru Nolaskoain scored his first top-flight goal, before Leganés responded five minutes later. Just as the tie seemed destined to end in a draw, Athletic Club’s no.10 got on the end of a Raúl García cross inside the box to make sure Athletic started the season with three points on the board.