in the match at San Mamés, the Williams brothers, Iñaki and Nico, continued to shine for Athletic Club against Rayo Vallecano. A family celebration followed their latest international duty with Ghana and Spain as the Basque side surged back into Champions League contention with a 3-2 victory over the Madrid visitors.
the older brother, Inaki, earned the first goal with a measured run that levelled the score, and the younger Nico finished the half with Athletic ahead 3-1 in a display that echoed a similar previous performance. Between the two tallies, Oihan Sancet had already turned the tide to 2-1, and in the late stages Radamel Falcao sparked emotion with a 3-2 score as Iker Muniain received a generous let-off in the closing moments. The home crowd erupted as the finish line neared.
the encounter also offered a social moment, with the Williams brothers scoring in the same match after 42 games together, a milestone tweeted by supporters and the La Liga channels to mark the event. The caption highlighted the twin impact of Williaaams45 and willliamsssnico amid the La Liga Santander clash between Athletik and Rayo.
the tactical duel between manager Ernesto Valverde and his counterpart Andoni Iraola provided the narrative for a gripping game at La Catedral, where momentum swung from start to finish in front of a sold-out crowd.
early on, Athletic pressed from the opening minutes as Unai tried to sting the goalkeeper with a left-footed strike, forcing a corner. The goalkeeper proved adept on several threatening moments, with shots testing him from distance and a few close calls that skimmed the bar and sailed over. The pace was frantic, and the first half produced four valid goals but also saw three disallowed for offside, including a tight finish by Iñaki Williams that kept the lines under the microscope.
Rayo began with the best surge, catching Athletic off balance as Trejo opened the scoring in the fourth minute after a quick run and a clever touch that left the home defence reeling. Athletic responded swiftly, drawing level by the eighth minute as the tide shifted and an early offside ruling lingered in the minds of players and supporters alike.
From there Athletic grew into the game, with Williams warming up and taking control as the contest moved into its middle stages. A hallmark sequence saw Dani García deliver a precise pass from the back to release a finish from Iñaki Williams that showcased a rare, clean strike. The equaliser sparked a sequence of confident play, with Muniain, Berenguer, and Sancet combining in a swift move that ended with the young midfielder calmly converting on the penalty spot to claim a 2-1 lead for Athletic.
The half then pushed toward a dramatic end as Yeray seized a second-half chance to extend the advantage with a nod from a Williams cross, bringing Nico Williams into the scoring spotlight once more and pushing the score to 3-1 as Dimitrievski looked on. Earlier, a potential 1-2 by Camello was ruled offside, and a later attempt by Sancet, set up by Iñaki Williams, was also ruled offside as the lines remained tight throughout the match.
The restart brought a renewed push from Rayo. Fran García lobbed a cross that Fran tried to convert into a 3-2, but Athletic responded with a swift counterattack that Dimitrievski managed to parry, keeping the 3-2 scoreline intact. The action pressed late as Muniain and Williams combined again to threaten the goal, with a decisive effort by the captain cleared off the line by the visiting defence before the final whistle.
The substitute Navarrese forward added intensity but could not breach the goalkeeper again, even as a late sequence of chances kept the crowd on their feet. Muniain remained influential, with a late chance to widen the gap, while the visitors fought back through a pair of dangerous forays that required sharp defensive work from the home side. The finish was tense, but Athletic held firm through the dying minutes.
The match, played before a crowd of over forty-three thousand, underscored the strategic duel between two coaches who have guided their teams with distinct but complementary styles. The rhythm never paused, a blend of patient buildup and swift transitions that kept supporters engaged from whistle to whistle.
Data sheet:
Athletic Club: Unai Simón; De Marcos, Yeray, Inigo Martínez, Lekue; Dani García, Sancet (Herrera, m.65), Muniain (Zarraga, m.79), Nico Williams (Morcillo, m.79), Berenguer (Paredes, m.90), Iñaki Williams (Raúl García, m.90).
Vallecano: Dimitrievski; Balliu, Catena, Lejeune (Believer, art.79), Fran Garcia; Comesaña (Unai López, m.69), Oscar Valentín (Pathé Ciss, m.46); Isi Palazón, Trejo (Baby, m.90), Álvaro; Camel (Falcao m.79).
Goals: 0-1 Trejo (art.14); 1-1 Iñaki Williams (art.14); 2-1 Sancet (art.28); 3-1 Nico Williams (art.33); 3-2 Falcao (m.80).
Referee: Mateu Lahoz. Yellow cards: Dani García (Athletic, m.45); Oscar Valentín (Rayo, m.21); Pathé Ciss (Rayo, m.67).
Attendance: 43,484 at San Mamés.