a notable Monday for Athletic Club as they earned a point against Girona at Montilivi, finishing 1-1 and advancing in La Liga EA Sports. With this draw, the Basque side remains firmly in the fight for European football, keeping pace with the leaders and sharpening its chase in the league standings.
The table-toppers shift slightly after the stalemate, pausing a five-game league winning streak and staying tied on points with Real Madrid at the summit while holding a comfortable ten-point buffer over the rest of the pack. Ernesto Valverde’s squad is the first to drop out of the Champions League spots, but the fight remains intense and the road ahead is clear for a side chasing European football with ambition and grit.
Athletic traveled to Montilivi with intent and pressure. The visitors caused early discomfort for Girona, pressing high and attempting to disrupt the hosts from the opening whistle. The first quarter of an hour set a tense tone, as both sides sought control without giving an inch.
After five minutes, Mikel Vesga spotted a gap in Girona’s defense and threaded a smart pass through to Gorka Guruzeta. Guruzeta looked to finish, but a curling, tentative effort rolled wide, a moment that hinted at the razor-thin margins that would define the night.
As the minutes passed, Girona found spaces and posed questions to Unai Simón, especially down the left flank. Miguel Gutiérrez and Sávio Moreira combined well to pull the ball back into danger, creating a chance for Cristhian Stuani after he replaced Artem Dovbyk. Stuani struck it high on the first attempt and then came again, only to be denied by a sensational save from Unai Simón, a reminder of the goalkeeper’s sharp reflexes and composure.
Athletic responded with ambition, firing a powerful shot from Oihan Sancet that tested the keeper and signaling intent to overturn the balance in the opening period. A rebound opportunity at the edge of the box gave De Marcos a chance to strike from the penalty spot, but the effort skimmed past the far post, denying a potential breakthrough.
Guruzeta, Vesga and Nico Williams tested Gazzaniga, who rose to the moment with brave stops to keep the score level. Young Sávio also asked questions, contributing to a lively first half that left both sides with belief and little to separate them at the break.
In the 27th minute, a Brazilian run looked to have broken the deadlock as a run through the midfield culminated in a pass into the box. Yangel Herrera appeared to score, but the flag went up for offside at the start of the counterattack, keeping the score at 0-0 and preserving the suspense.
The first half finished without a goal, a fair reflection of two equal teams on a neutral stage. The rhythm was balanced, and neither side could claim a decisive edge before the break.
Girona returned with fresh energy, stepping up their grind ten minutes after the restart. The hosts found joy through a sustained exchange on the left, with Miguel Gutiérrez and Sávio combining to push the ball forward relentlessly. The Brazilian playmaker delivered a dangerous cross to Tsygankov, and the Ukrainian found the back of the net with a clever finish, though the assistant signaled offside, canceling the opener.
The home side’s confidence grew as they dominated the tempo, intent on pressuring Athletic’s defense and pursuing a second goal. With the clock ticking toward the hour, Girona’s momentum paid dividends as Tsygankov delivered again, this time finishing a well-worked move to claim a 1-0 lead that galvanized the stands and unsettled the visitors.
On the other side, Iñaki Williams sprinted through the spine of the defense, evading Aleix García and Daley Blind before coolly slotting past Gazzaniga with a precise left-foot strike in the 67th minute. The goal, Williams’ sixth in La Liga that season, sparked a roar of celebration from the home contingent and reinvigorated Athletic with a sense of purpose and urgency.
Catch me if you can. The moment felt emblematic of the match’s dramatic arc—bursting energy, quick transitions, and a sense that the contest could tilt at any moment.
Iñaki Williams’ spectacular marker steadied the home side and gave them a share of the spoils, underscoring the contest’s nature as a high-stakes battle between two well-matched teams. The post-goal atmosphere was electric, with the home supporters savoring a point that keeps them in the thin line separating them from the league’s top tier and European qualification hopefuls.
The game’s closing stages saw Athletic press for a late winner, while Girona looked to protect the draw and exploit counter opportunities. Nico Williams delivered a long-range strike that forced a sharp save from the Girona goalkeeper, and the visitors, tired but resilient, held firm through a succession of anxious moments. Yan Couto’s pass and Yangel Herrera’s header kept Athletic in the hunt, while Pablo Torre’s search for space concluded without the finishing touch.