Athletic Club

Sancet and Nico send Athletic into orbit

A brace from Oihan, including Athletic's 5,000th LaLiga goal, and a lethal left-footed Nico strike into the top corner saw the Lions come from behind to consolidate their European hopes

A comeback victory on a crucial day. Athletic fought back from a goal down at half-time to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-1 at San Mames on Sunday night.

The win sees the Lions maintain their six-point advantage over Villarreal CF and extend the gap to Real Betis to nine points. An important step towards Champions League qualification.

Oihan Sancet, with a brace, went down in history as the scorer of the Lions' 5,000th goal in LaLiga with his second strike. It was the cherry on top of the cake. A cake which Nico Williams had already taken out of the oven moments before with a splendid left-footed effort from a short corner.

Rayo Vallecano proved tricky opposition. They came out determined to put up a fight and Pedro Diaz threatened with an early effort.

Álvaro Djaló, confident on his return to the starting XI, gave Augusto Batalla some early work to do, but Athletic's first clear chance fell to Unai Gomez, who had an shot blocked by a defender. Gorka Guruzeta also tried his luck with a header that missed the target.

Then Ernesto Valverde's men were dealt a tough blow. The referee went to the VAR and gave Rayo a penalty for a Dani Vivian challenge on Alvaro García. Unai Simón got to Pedro Díaz's spot-kick , but Pathé Ciss pounced on the loose ball to score.

Valverde made a double sub at half-time and Athletic went up a gear. Maroan and Sancet provided fresh impetus and the Lions were rewarded with a penalty when Alfonso Espino tugged on Maroan's shirt in the box.

Oihan converted with class. He had already put Rayo to the sword with two goals in the reverse fixture and he followed that up with a brace at San Mames.

Mikel Jauregizar, who's drive in the middle of the park played a fundamental role in the comeback, put in a cross for Iñaki Williams that would prove to be key. Our second goal came from the subsequent corner. Nico and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta caught Rayo off guard with a quick corner and the younger Williams struck home with a left-footed belter.

Maroan and Jauregizar both had further chances, but the third finally came after a lethal Sannadi counter-attack, the striker teeing up Sancet for his 16th goal of the season, his 15th in LaLiga. A fantastic right-footed strike to remember, Athletic's 5,000th LaLiga goal.

The only bad news of the night was that Iñaki Williams needed to be brought off after picking up a knock.

Rangers await on Thursday, and confidence is once again soaring at Athletic and San Mames.