A quick own goal by rookie Nico Fernandez at nine minutes opened the scoring, followed by a needless penalty converted by Nico Williams at the thirteenth. A defensive lapse on the left allowed Williams another strike at twenty-two, and just before halftime Berenguer finished the lead with a fourth as Athletic Club Bilbao overwhelmed Elche in the forty-third minute.
Francisco covered his face in disbelief, unable to explain the collapse. The Elche defense looked exposed in the opening half, while Athletic Club Bilbao pressed with fast, vertical play that created several chances. Fortunately, Munian prevented a further tally after another error on the left, and Berenguer was offside on an earlier buildup.
The first forty-five minutes were disastrous for Elche, and the rojiblancos exploited weaknesses that should not exist in a top-flight side, setting a tough tone for the evening at the Martínez Valero stadium.
Whistles from the stands grew louder as fans demanded relief, voicing frustration with Elche’s unpredictable season ahead. The mood suggested looming clouds over the club’s prospects for the campaign.
In the second half, Francisco’s team showed more resolve; intensity rose and the football improved. Yet Ponce managed to score for 1-4 in the fifty-eighth minute, offering a brief glimmer of consolation amid the heavy defeat.
The Almeria coach made several changes to address the drift: five alterations from the prior match against Villarreal included moving Pol Lirola to the right flank, bringing Nico Fernandez in on the left for Clerc, reshuffling the midfield with Gumbau and Raul Guti, using Quina as a starter in the midfield for Eze Ponce, and inserting Pere Milla on the left wing for Tete Morente. The Franjiverde manager aimed to regain control of central areas and push Boyé higher while keeping Collado on the right flank.
Despite a well-meaning plan, defensive mistakes canceled the effort. The scoreboard still read 0-0 roughly twenty minutes into the second period when issues resurfaced and Elche found itself chasing the game again.
At thirty-seven minutes, Francisco made the first substitution, removing a missing player and pairing Mascarell with Eze Ponce to tighten each flank. The 0-4 scoreline, reached just before the break, underscored Elche’s inability to manage the rhythm and the physical challenge posed by Athletic Club. It felt like a broken toy in the visitors’ hands, leaving little to justify the catastrophe.
Reports from the dressing room spoke of a bland improvement, yet the second half did not fully tilt the balance. Francisco attempted two more changes, slotting a youth squad member John into the midfield and bringing Fidel back from injury while moving Collado forward and widening Pere Milla to the left. Elche did gain some momentum, tightening up defensively and pressing higher up the pitch, but the impact remained limited.
Elche gradually found some footing, with a rare foray forward resulting from a baseline cross leading to Lirola’s final touch and a sharp save by Badia. Athletic responded with a late push, striking the crossbar through Berenguer and seeing Muniain denied on the rebound by a spectacular save from Badia. Nico Williams had faded in the first half but reappeared on the left flank as the game progressed, showing glimpses of the quality he can bring to the attack.
The more intense spell forced Boyé to disrupt a buildup, and a counterattack nearly produced a late goal when Franjiverde released the ball to Ponce for a shot at the far post. The chance highlighted both teams’ willingness to attack, even as the result remained firmly in Bilbao’s favor.
The Elche fans could sense a fragile hope that a miracle might still appear with thirty minutes left, but the dream faded. Athletic remained compact at the back, resisting the wind and maintaining a solid advantage on the scoreboard. A late change of tempo by Zárraga, followed by Fidel testing the defense once more, kept the visitors alert, but the gains were small. Elche could not sustain pressure long enough to turn the tide.
As the match drew to a close, there was a brief note of improvement in Elche’s performance. It was clear that the home side needed a deeper reflection and a conscience check about the defensive discipline that has haunted their campaign. Conceding twelve goals in five matches is untenable for a club aiming to avoid relegation. The next test loomed large: a trip to Camp Nou against Barcelona would demand a rapid reset if Elche hopes to arrest their slide and reaffirm their status in the top flight.
DATA SHEET
ELCHE: Badia; Lirola, Roco, Bigas, Nico Fernandez; Gumbau, Quina, Mascarell, Collado, Pere Milla, Lucas Boyé.
BILBAO ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Inigo Martinez, Lekue; Sancet, Dani Garcia; Nico Williams, Muniain, Berenguer, Iki Williams.
JUDGE: Melero Lopez. For Elche, Mascarell received a yellow card and Roco and Bigas were cautioned.
GOALS: 0-1 Nico Fernandez (own goal, 9); 0-2 Sancet (penalty, 13); 0-3 Nico Williams (22); 0-4 Berenguer (44); 1-4 Ponce (58).
STADIUM: Martínez Valero, 24,176 spectators.