Athletic Club - Real Betis

Athletic Club have returned to winning ways, beating Real Betis 3-2 after an enormous fightback in the final stretch of a second half. Iñaki Williams, with a brace which included a left-footed missile, and Oscar De Marcos, with an 88th minute winner, sent San Mamés wild just three days before they host leaders Real Madrid.

It was a superb match, against a third-placed side with a lot of talent in attack. Things got off to a great start for the Lions when in the second minute Iker Muniain, on his 29th birthday, set up Iñaki Williams to make it 1-0. The linesman initially flagged it offside, but VAR rectified it. The Lions paid tribute to mentor and coach Koldo Asua, who passed away during the week.

Real Betis did not sit back. Hector Bellerín tested Julen Agirrezabala and shortly after Juanmi equalised when the goalkeeper deflected Alex Moreno’s header into the his path. The give and take was tremendous, although it all became much more neck-and-neck in the second period.

Pellegrini’s side went for broke after the break. Julen stopped Nabil Fekir first and then Willian José shot wide when through on goal. Eventually the pressure told and Fekir made it 1-2 with a left-footed shot in the 52 minute.

Marcelino made immediate changes and the Lions, with nothing to lose, launched themselves at Rui Silva’s goal. In the 72nd minute Oihan Sancet threaded a ball through to Iñaki Williams and the striker smashed in a powerful left-footed shot from a tight angle. Iñaki almost repeated the feat a minute later, but this time the Portuguese keeper denied him.

Not long later, Mikel Balenziaga, making his 300th appearance for the Club, put in a venomous low cross which Nico Williams couldn’t quite get past Silva.

With 38,000 Athletic fans in San Mamés cheering them on, the Lions found their breakthrough. Óscar de Marcos whipped in a shot from the edge of the box which went past Silva with the help of a deflection from Victor Ruiz.

The Cathedral exploded in happiness and relief. Athletic take home three vital points which get their domestic campaign back on track.