The athletics club continued its pursuit of Champions League football after a victory that reinforced its dreams. In San Mamés, the home side dominated Mallorca with a decisive 4-0 victory. Two goals from Yuri Berchiche opened the scoring, followed by a striking contribution from Guruzeta. The finishing touch came from Iker Muniain, sealing the win and lifting the mood around the team.
Yuri’s second and third goals of the season came amid a strong performance that has made his name in the current campaign. The double this afternoon marked his tenth goal for Gurugol as Athletic padded their league tally, extending their unbeaten run to six in the regular championship at San Mamés, and eight if the Copa del Rey success is included. The Basque outfit thus underlined their domination on home soil in this division, showing the depth of their attack at La Catedral.
With the three points, Ernesto Valverde’s side remained in fifth place, just two points behind the teams occupying third and fourth—Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona—and awaited the conclusion of the 23rd matchday. Real Sociedad’s win kept them provisionally nine points ahead in sixth, a reflection of Athletic’s ongoing defensive strength and attacking potency.
“ ́ ́…? ́ ℎ ́…? ”.
Big Night @yuriberchiche #LALIGAEASPORTS #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/uHY5Oovr2E
— Football on Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) February 2, 2024
Beyond the scoreline, the result fuels Athletic’s momentum ahead of the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Atlético at Civitas Metropolitano on Wednesday, a clash that could further define their season.
Hard blow to Mallorca
For Mallorca, the defeat slips them closer to the relegation battleground, leaving them with four points and three places to spare. The setback arrives just as Mallorca prepare for their own cup semi-final first leg against Real Madrid in Son Moix on Tuesday, a test of character for a team that had shown resilience in recent fixtures.
Valverde rotated the squad, resting Vivian and keeping Yeray on the field at left-back while increasing Paredes’s involvement. The defensive trio remained intact with Aguirre opting to spare Sergi Darder and lining up Larin in attack against Muriqi and Abdón Prats, a tactical choice reflecting the coach’s trust in his remaining options.
Yuri’s first goal
From the outset, it was unclear whether the visitors could withstand Athletic’s early intensity. The home team surged ahead in the 3rd minute and doubled the lead by the 16th, thanks to two well-timed strikes from Yuri, both set pieces that caught Mallorca off balance. Nico Williams contributed to the buildup, underscoring Athletic’s collective threat.
The first goal saw Yuri finish with a deft back-heel flick after a foul by Valjent on Iñaki Williams. The second came from a corner, with Guruzeta’s involvement crucial in setting Yuri up for a precise right-footed finish into the corner.
Yuri’s left-footed shots, while unconventional, kept Mallorca on their heels. The crowd roared as the ball found the target, even as the visitors absorbed the pressure. Mallorca’s goalkeeper Rajkovic faced a barrage and, at times, could not quite replicate the calm reflexes needed to stem the tide.
Two unusual attempts from a left-back with a nose for goal kept the match lively. Despite the onslaught, Mallorca remained competitive, with Simón needing to be at his best on a couple of occasions and Mascarell and Antonio Sánchez testing the goalkeeper’s resolve with a pair of long-range efforts. The balance of play tilted toward Athletic, who controlled the tempo and tempo with steady possession converting into chances.
Rajkovic was frustrated by Yuri’s unorthodox attempts, narrowly avoiding a third and prolonging Mallorca’s hopes of a comeback in the early stages of the second half.
Guruzeta’s tenth goal
The match retained its classic feel in San Mamés, with a precise cross from De Marcos setting up Guruzeta for a header that deserved recognition. The Serbian goalkeeper’s reflexes were tested as Guruzeta’s header found the back of the net for the third time, adding sparkle to an already sparkling display from Athletic.
The third goal moment came amid a potential VAR intervention after Nico Williams appeared to be fouled in the box. The officials reviewed a sliding challenge by Nico but ultimately confirmed the goal, keeping the scoreline intact and underscoring the home side’s dominance in the first half.
Iñaki Williams’s shot deflected wide as the first half closed, while the team regrouped with a comfortable lead. The second period saw Athletic threaten again as Raíllo and his defensive colleagues faced renewed pressure. Nico Williams took charge, but Valjent cleared, and the ball remained in a zone where Athletic continued to push for more goals.
“I don’t know… ”.
Nico Williams left the field with an injury concern. #LALIGAEASPORTS #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/4yQbeRmLQg
— Football on Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) February 2, 2024
With the siege continuing, Athletic assembled a late-wave of chances, including further attempts from Williams and Sancet and a header from the visitors’ defense that brushed Yeray’s post. Guruzeta remained a constant threat, and a celebrated sequence culminated in a goal as the ball found the net through Athletic’s patient build-up play.
Late in the game, a counter-attack orchestrated by Nico Williams saw Guruzeta cap the scoring in style. The move began with Iñaki Williams delivering from the right, a cross found by De Marcos, and Guruzeta finishing decisively with his head to seal a commanding win, the goal initially ruled offside before VAR correctly overturned the decision.
Moments later, Muniain added the garnish with a composed finish in the 89th minute, a captain’s tribute to a solid afternoon for Athletic as he finished a cross from De Marcos’s right flank.