Athletic Club - Getafe CF

Athletic Club won 5-1 against Getafe CF at San Mames with a dominant performance. The lions had to overcome an early scare after Marc Cucurella put the visitors ahead after 19 seconds.

It was Athletic’s first match back in Bilbao since the LaLiga Santander fixture against FC Barcelona on January 6, and the players did not disappoint.

Raúl García, with a brace, Yeray, Alex Berenguer and Oscar de Marcos all hit the back of the net for the Rojiblancos.

And what better birthday gift for Yeray, the defender who has just turned 26, scored his first ever goal in the red-and-white stripes! Athletic move into ninth place in the LaLiga Santander table and are very much looking upwards.

New head-coach Marcelino could not have asked for a better start to life in the Athletic dugout. After losing to FC Barcelona in his first game in charge, Athletic have now won four in a row. They have beaten Real Madrid, Barça, UD Ibiza and Getafe.

What’s more, scoring five against José Bordalás’ Getafe is no mean feat. Until this victory, Athletic had not got the better of the Madrid-based side during Bordalás’ reign.

Even the shock of conceding so quickly was not enough to stop the Lions.

The match began at a relentless pace, and within five minutes of Getafe’s goal, Athletic thought Iñaki Williams had been awarded a penalty before the referee overturned his decision. 

Athletic were back on level pegging in the 12th minute. Iker Muniain, provider of two goals tonight, found Raúl García in space with an inch-perfect cross. The forward threw his leg out and got the touch needed to send the ball past Ruben Yañez in Getafe’s goal.

It was a match in which it seemed every Athletic player was at 100 percent, including Unai Simón. The keeper made his contribution in the 29th minute, making a fantastic save to stop Jaime Mata from converting a penalty. 

Not long before half-time Muniain and Raúl connected again but Rulo headed the captain’s set-piece delivery straight into Yañez’s hands.

Athletic were simply brutal after the break.  Getafe, a team renowned for their strong and physical defence, had no answers as the Lions ripped them apart.

In the 49th minute, another dangerous free-kick delivery by Muniain found Yeray who headed home. On the hour mark, another perfect cross, this time by Mikel Balenziaga was met by a sublime Rulo header. Athletic were 3-1 up and sailing.

The only downside being that five minutes after setting up Raúl, the left-back went off injured.

4-1 arrived when De Marcos robbed the ball and found Williams, who set up recently subbed on Alex Berenguer.

Then Óscar rounded it all off in the 81st minute. The right-sided midfielder found the back of the net from Asier Villalibre‘s cross.

A great performance. Just a shame there were no fans to witness it.