Athletic Club leave Atletico Madrid reeling as Julian Alvarez witnesses San Mames rout

Athletic Club delivered a major early-season warning in La Liga by beating Atletico Madrid 3-0 on Saturday, with Julian Alvarez introduced from the bench but unable to prevent a heavy defeat for Diego Simeone’s side.

The result came in the fourth round of the Spanish top flight and extended Athletic Club’s strong start to the campaign. It was their second consecutive victory, following their win over Celta Vigo in the previous round.

For Atletico Madrid, however, the match ended in a damaging setback. A goalless first half was followed by a remarkable transformation after the interval, as Athletic Club scored three times and took complete control of the contest.

Nico Williams opened the scoring just one minute after the restart. Athletic Club quickly made their advantage even more commanding, with Robert Navarro doubling the lead two minutes later after receiving a decisive pass from Inaki Williams.

The two goals left Atletico Madrid struggling to respond, and Simeone attempted to change the course of the game with attacking substitutions. The most notable intervention came in the 60th minute, when Argentina forward Julian Alvarez was sent on as Atletico Madrid looked for a way back into the match.

Alvarez’s arrival did not alter the outcome. Athletic Club continued to press with intensity and maintained their grip on the game, while the visitors appeared increasingly unsettled during the second half.

Atletico Madrid were unable to reduce the deficit or regain a foothold in the match. Athletic Club’s dominance persisted until the closing stages, when Oihan Sancet completed the scoring in the final minute of normal time.

The third goal confirmed the scale of Athletic Club’s victory and prompted celebrations among the home supporters at San Mames. It also completed a second-half collapse for Atletico Madrid, who had remained level at the break but were overwhelmed after half-time.

The win keeps Athletic Club’s momentum building after their success against Celta Vigo and reinforces the strength of their early-season form. Their back-to-back victories have provided an impressive platform at this stage of the campaign.

For Atletico Madrid, the result raises early questions about their attacking level and their ability to compete this season. Despite Simeone’s attempt to refresh the forward line, including the introduction of Alvarez, his team could not find a response once Athletic Club moved ahead.

The defeat leaves Atletico Madrid facing scrutiny after a performance in which they conceded twice in the opening minutes of the second half and were ultimately beaten by a side that controlled the remainder of the match.