Athletic Club - Elche CF
Matchday 30
Liga

Athletic Club - Elche CF

Athletic Club
Athletic Club
21
Elche CF
Elche CF
  • 32' Berenguer
  • 86' Villalibre
  • Josan 92'

LocationSan Mamés , Bilbao

34.572 assistants

A win to keep Athletic in the fight for Europe

Athletic beat Elche with fine goals from Berenguer and Villalibre to move to within one point of Villarreal

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Athletic Club defeated Elche CF 2-1 thanks to strikes from Alex Berenguer and Asier Villalibre. Los Rojiblancos made the most of their superiority on the day, taking an important step forward in the race for Europe.

The Lions came out firing, determined to take the early initiative. Oihan Sancet and Iñaki Williams linked up well, the latter twice playing through the Panther, who was denied a goal by Edgar Badia and then the post.

Alex Berenguer scored a candidate for goal of the season to put Athletic ahead in the 33rd minute. The winger scored a sensational scissor-kick goal after being found in space by a Yuri Berchiche cross. VAR gave it a quick review for a potential offside, but the goal stood.

The Lions looked to grab a second before half time with Yuri, from a free-kick, and Williams testing Badia.

Elche improved after the break, looking to attack more. But Athletic defended well with Dani Vivian and Unai Nuñez marshalling the backline well.

In the 61st minute, Mikel Vesga and Sancet combined before finding Iñaki, who was again thwarted by the visiting goalkeeper.

Alex Petxarroman, subbed on for Vesga in the 65th minute, tried his luck with a powerful left-footed shot from the edge of the box, but Badia was equal to it.

Villalibre scored the killer goal five minutes before full-time. The Buffalo demonstrated his power by shrugging off a defender before placing a right-footed finish beyond Badia for his first goal of the season.

Elche added a little twist at the end, as Josan scored a late consolation goal. However, Athletic held out in the dying minutes to make sure it was job done.

The Lions are now just one point behind seventh-placed Villarreal, our opponents next weekend.