Spanish-born Ghanaian winger Nico Williams played a pivotal role in Athletic Bilbao’s 2-1 triumph over Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas in La Liga Round 15.
Rayo opened the scoring early through Randy Nteka’s composed finish in the 14th minute. The hosts, bolstered by a vocal home crowd, looked poised to frustrate Athletic Club with resilient defending and sharp counterattacks. Despite Rayo’s energetic play, Nico Williams and his teammates remained undeterred.
The turning point came in the 65th minute when Nico Williams produced a moment of brilliance, threading a perfectly weighted pass for Oihan Sancet, who leveled the game with a clinical strike from a tight angle. This assist marked Nico’s growing influence in the game.
Athletic seized the momentum, and Sancet completed his brace in the 78th minute with a long-range effort, securing all three points for the Basque side.
With 12 shots and 53% possession, Athletic Bilbao’s dominance eventually told, propelling them closer to European qualification spots. They now face a stern test against Real Madrid on December 4.
