DEPORTIVO ALAVES 2-4 ATHLETIC CLUB
By Our Man in Spain
Forget the rain in Spain; it was raining goals in Vitoria-Gasteiz last night as Athletic Club reminded the world why they are the undisputed kings of Basque football. In a pulsating encounter that felt more like a heavyweight title fight than a league match, the visitors walked away with a 4-2 victory, powered by a masterclass from the Williams brothers.
While Alaves showed plenty of fight, they simply had no answer for the sheer electric pace of Nico Williams. The Euro 2024 hero played like a man with magnets in his boots, dancing through the Alaves defense and proving exactly why every top club in London has him on their Christmas list.
The scoring opened early, but it was the synergy between Nico and his brother Iñaki that truly broke the hosts’ spirit. When they hit top gear, it’s not just football—it’s a track meet that only one team is invited to win.
The Nico Show: Every time the younger Williams touched the ball, the home crowd held its breath. His ability to turn a defender inside out created the space for Athletic’s clinical finish.
Alaves Resilience: Give credit where it’s due—the hosts didn’t roll over. They clawed back two goals, briefly making the Bilbao faithful sweat.
The Killer Blow: Just as Alaves sensed a comeback, Athletic’s midfield engine room shifted gears, feeding the front line for a fourth and final goal that killed the contest.
”We knew it would be a battle,” said an exhausted but grinning Nico Williams post-match. “But when we play with this much freedom, we feel like we can score every time we cross the halfway line.”
THE VERDICT
Alaves will feel hard done by the scoreline, having played their part in a La Liga classic. However, you can’t account for world-class X-factors. Athletic Club didn’t just win; they swaggered.
With the Williams brothers in this kind of form, Athletic aren’t just looking for a European spot—they’re looking to tear the whole league apart.
STAR MAN: Nico Williams (Athletic Club) – 9/10. Simply unplayable.
MOAN OF THE MATCH: The Alaves defending. You can’t give stars this much room and expect to keep your dignity.