HE Athletic is back in action as Betis visits San Mamés, delivering a wild opening in the first half. Willian José scored for Brazil and Isco Alarcón followed, but Mikel Vesga pulled one back with a smart finish from a penalty, the spot kick earned after a VAR review. Gorka Guruzeta then grabbed a third for the home side to cap a dramatic start.
After the storm subsided, the second half settled into a calmer rhythm. Young Unai Gómez seized the moment to seal a 4-2 victory, marking Athletic’s second win in three days and keeping them in the chase for European places. Betis, coming off a defeat on the pitch, faced a tough night but had moments where they showed resilience.
With a few continental ambitions still in play, Betis remained persistent as the match wore on, and the early setback did little to erase their intent on turning the tide.
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The two penalties in the contest were confirmed by the referee after a VAR review. The first penalty occurred following the play, and the second was awarded after consultation with the VAR room. In the end, three goals in a brutal first half defined the narrative, while Athletic’s Dani sent a couple of hopeful balls to the posts as Vivian glanced a header and Iker Muniain unleashed a long-range strike.
The opening minutes saw Betis pressing, but two incisive plays by Athletic left them behind the deficit. An early sequence featured a vertical, precise pass from Marc Roca anchoring Athletic’s attack, allowing Ayoze and Willian José to connect and the Brazilian found the net behind a firm wall of defenders.
Guido Rodríguez offered a lengthy, intricate explanation of his team’s approach in the build-up, setting the stage for Aitor Ruibal to deliver a cross to Isco, and Malaga’s man’s crossbow found its way to the target. Betis refused to relent and soon Nikó struck the crossbar with a header from Vivian as the visitors sought a swift answer.
Nico and Imanol tested the keeper with two shots blocked by defenders, and Iñaki’s late offside goal added to Bilbao’s menace as Williams began to influence the game from the bench. Two shots from Vesga, both from the left side of the box, brought penalties and converted chances, both from the spot to the left of the Portuguese goalkeeper.
The first half closed with Athletic clinging to momentum despite Betis’s best efforts. A long ball that Isco failed to control kept the door ajar for a late burst, and Guruzeta’s presence in the box intensified the pressure, culminating in Williams feeding a finisher with composure and purpose.
During the ensuing frenzy, Betis did not give up. They launched a few promising attacks, Isco’s setup yielding a cross that Ayoze could have converted, and Paredes’s own goal-saving intervention after a corner forced a save from Simón. The mood at half-time hinted at a different story in the locker room, yet Athletic returned with a palpable advantage that surprised the visitors after a stormy opening period.
As the game resumed, Isco could not land a clean touch on the ball, and Guruzeta again appeared with a header to Williams’s cross, which opened the door for a late surge. Unai Gómez emerged as a decisive factor, adding a fourth for Athletic after Villalibre’s earlier hesitation to shoot allowed Williams to deliver once more from the wing. The scoreline reflected Athletic’s forward thrust and Betis’s stubborn defense, with a final spark coming from Gómez on the day he started the match and helped seal the win.
– Data sheet:
4 – Athletic: Unai Simon; Lekue, Vivian, Paredes, Imanol; Vesga, Galarreta; Iñaki Williams, Muniain, Nico Williams; Guruzeta, Unai Gómez. Substitutions: Yuri, art. 66; Dani Garcia, art. 86; Unai Gómez, art. 66; Villalibre, art. 75; Berenguer, art. 66.
2 – Betis: Rui Silva; Sabaly, Pezzella, Luiz Felipe, Abner Vinicius; Guido Rodríguez, Marc Roca; Aitor Ruibal, Isco, Ayoze; Willian José. Substitutions: Miranda, art. 57; Paul, art. 65; Guardado, art. 74; Rodri, art. 57; Borja Iglesias, art. 74.
Goals: 0-1, m.2: Willian José. 0-2, m.10: Isco. 1-2, m.30: Vesga, penalty. 2-2, m.46: Vesga, penalty. 3-2, m.52+: Guruzeta. 4-2, art.84: Unai Gómez.
Referee: César Soto Grado. Yellow cards: local Paredes, Galarreta, Vesga, Berenguer; visitors Guido Rodríguez and Abner, Vinicius. Highlights: 44,340 spectators in San Mamés on day three of LaLiga EA Sports. Official data.