Athletic Bilbao claims first Europa League victory with 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar
Athletic Bilbao secured their first Europa League win of the season, defeating Dutch side AZ Alkmaar 2-0 in a hard-fought encounter on matchday two. The Spanish club, aiming to bounce back from their earlier draw against AS Roma, delivered a determined performance to earn three crucial points at San Mamés.
After an opening 1-1 stalemate with Roma, Athletic Bilbao needed a victory to reignite their Europa League campaign.
Despite a tightly contested first half that saw both teams struggle to create clear-cut chances, Ernesto Valverde’s side found their rhythm in the second half to seal a well-earned win.
The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute, with the Williams brothers once again combining to devastating effect.
Nico Williams set up his older brother Iñaki, who calmly slotted home to give Athletic Bilbao the lead.
The strike, celebrated fervently by the home crowd, gave the Basque side the confidence boost they needed.
Just 13 minutes later, Bilbao doubled their advantage through Oihan Sancet.
The midfielder’s composed finish, following a well-executed team move, put the game beyond AZ Alkmaar’s reach.
At 2-0, Bilbao comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to secure their first victory in the competition.
The win gives Athletic Bilbao four points from their opening two matches, putting them in a strong position to advance from the group stage.
For AZ Alkmaar, it marked their first loss in this Europa League campaign, leaving them with three points after two games.
Athletic Bilbao’s victory was a testament to their resilience and ability to rise to the occasion when needed.
Iñaki Williams, once again playing a pivotal role for his team, demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess with his clinical finish, while Sancet’s goal added the finishing touch to a dominant second-half display.
For AZ Alkmaar, the defeat serves as a setback, but they remain in contention in the group with plenty of matches still to come.
The Dutch side showed glimpses of promise, particularly in the first half, but they were ultimately undone by Athletic Bilbao’s sharpness in front of goal.
With this win, Athletic Bilbao has set the tone for the remainder of their Europa League campaign, showing that they have the quality and determination to compete at the highest level.
Their next fixture will be crucial as they seek to build on this momentum and push for qualification from the group stage.
Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar will look to regroup and bounce back in their next outing, hoping to learn from this defeat and keep their European hopes alive.
Both teams still have much to play for, making the upcoming matches in this group a fascinating prospect.
🇬🇭 Iñaki Williams since returning from the international break:
• 2 games
• 3 assists
• 1 goalThe forward has the most direct goal involvements in La Liga for Athletic Club (4) this season. pic.twitter.com/rIWMYmD7eq
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) September 19, 2024