A stoppage-time moment in the first half altered the balance of the match as Getafe halted Athletic Bilbao’s momentum. Valverde’s side had taken control early, then endured a late setback when Sancet was sent off, a decision that shaped the rest of the night. The opening exchanges saw Yuri Berchiche weaving through the defense to deliver the first goal, while Gastón Álvarez drew Athletic level earlier. Inaki Williams soon restored the lead for the visitors, and Junami Latasa added a late insurance tally to seal the result for Getafe.
With this outcome, Athletic Bilbao clings to a Champions League spot and looks ahead to Saturday’s derby against Real Sociedad at Anoeta. Their recent form remains solid, collecting 13 points from 15 before this game, leaving them with 14 from 18 as the campaign progresses. The win nudges Getafe into the upper half, despite a goal concession that has been a recurring issue in recent fixtures, as the Azulones search for consistency in defense and counterattacking chances.
Getafe earned the initiative in an early stage and wasted little time asserting pressure. A yellow card was shown to Paredes in the second minute as he tracked Mayoral and forced a crucial save. Shortly after, Paredes smothered Maksimovic’s effort, denying a quick strike on goal. The pivotal moment arrived when Athletic converted a foul on Vivian into a goal: Berenguer passed to Sancet, who fired with calm precision, slipping the ball past Soria’s reach and into the net as coverage collapsed around him.
From that point, Getafe attempted to seize control, even coming close to drawing level as Mayoral nudged behind Athletic’s defense and forced a sharp save from Simón after a clever run. The ball found its way back into play, but the national team goalkeeper recovered quickly and cleared the threat with a timely heel stop, preserving Athletic’s advantage heading toward halftime.
By midway through the first half, the match had been dominated by the hosts, who created several opportunities, particularly through Guruzeta. He pressed Soria into a mistake in one sequence and then narrowly missed another when his shot was blocked on a late cross. Meanwhile, De Marcos enjoyed a notable chance after a precise pass from Ander Herrera, marking a strong return to action for the veteran midfielder following Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta’s injury absence. Athletic finished the period with a sense of optimism, showing defensive organization and sharper cohesion than their opponents, and they entered the break with an eye on the upcoming derby against Real Sociedad at Anoeta, aiming to sustain their position among the league’s top contenders.
However, the narrative shifted dramatically after halftime. Sancet’s red card, shown during the stoppage in the first half, cast a shadow over Athletic’s prospects for the night, with a disputed clash involving Diego Rico that ended in a straight red card for the Getafe defender and sparked controversy around the sequence. The red card left Athletic with a numerical disadvantage as the action resumed, complicating their game plan and testing their resolve in the second half.
Things looked different after the restart, as Getafe equalized through Aleñá’s setup from a corner. Gastón Álvarez struck a shot that deflected off Williams, possibly consulting a deflection that left Simón wrong-footed and unable to react in time to prevent the rebound from entering the net. The momentum shifted palpably, and Athletic found themselves pressed back as Getafe pushed forward with renewed vigor.
Nevertheless, Athletic showed resilience in the face of pressure. Williams, though visibly fatigued, stood tall in duels, particularly in his ongoing duel with Angileri. In a decisive moment, Williams outpaced the opposing defender and won a critical battle, delivering a diagonal strike that put Athletic back in front. The composite attack from Athletic highlighted the visitors’ counterpunching capacity and their willingness to gamble in pursuit of a second goal that would secure the evening’s result.
Getafe answered immediately as coach Bordalás, operating with a numerical advantage, pushed for a prompt response. Oscar Rodríguez unleashed a powerful long-range drive that drew the scores level once again. In the ensuing scramble within the home box, Simón cleared Latasa’s header off the line, narrowly averting a potential setback as the ball clattered against the frame and into a safe area for the visitors. The arena held its breath as the clock ticked on and the tension mounted.
Getafe pressed on with persistence, and Latasa finally found his moment. A precise delivery from Carmona on the right produced a clinical header that restored Getafe’s lead and provided a late, almost ceremonial conclusion to a hard-fought contest. The final seconds carried particular heat as both sides battled for supremacy, and the tension inside the stadium referenced a match that had ebbed and flowed in phases, punctuated by moments of quality and misfortune alike.
The evening ended with a confrontation near the benches, as tensions spilled over and warnings were issued. The ensuing melee underscored the emotional intensity of a tightly contested league fixture and brought Getafe’s victory to a close with decisive action on both ends of the pitch, a reminder that in this league, a single moment can tilt the balance and alter a team’s trajectory for weeks to come.