BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao thumped Atletico Madrid 3-0 in La Liga on a miserable Saturday afternoon for Diego Simeone’s side.
Nico Williams, Robert Navarro and Oihan Sancet’s goals gave the Basque hosts a resounding victory at their San Mames Stadium.
Athletic secured back-toback wins under former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, after losing their first two matches of the campaign.
Simeone’s Atletico fell to their first defeat of the season, putting up little fight in the second half after Athletic made the breakthrough with two quick strikes from Williams and Navarro.
‘Their two goals, in the blink of an eye, did us a lot of damage,’ Atletico’s Pablo Barrios told Movistar.
Striker Julian Alvarez, who tried to leave the club to join Barcelona this summer, returned as a substitute afterillness in an ineffective second half appearance.
The visitors had the better of the opening period, although they failed to create many clear-cut chances after an early opportunity for Lee Kang-In.
The South Korean international struck a shot against the post in the third minute after the hosts were carved open.
Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon saved from Alex Baena as Atletico threatened, while Sancet came close at the other end with a blast into the sidenetting.
Pablo Barrios hit the post before the break for Atletico, who were sucker-punched early in the second half by Terzic’s side.
The Williams brothers combined for Athletic’s first, with Inaki’s deflected shot headed home by younger sibling Nico after 46 minutes.
Navarro doubled Athletic’s lead in the 48th minute, steering home after Inaki Williamsplayed him in.
Atletico coach Simeone rang the changes, including sending on want-away striker Alvarez to little effect.
The Argentina international struggled to get involved in the game and Sancet wrapped up Athletic’s victory in the 90th minute when he stroked home a loose ball after a blocked cross.
MBAPPE MISSES PENALTY On Friday, Kylian Mbappe missed a late penalty as Troy Parrott scored his first goal for Real Betis in a 1-0 win over Real Madrid, ending Jose Mourinho’s side’s perfect start to the season.
Defeats for both Madrid sides mean league leaders Barcelona can strengthen their position at the top if they are able to beat Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday.
‘The team played a great game. Sometimes you lose and cannot explain how,’ said Mourinho.
‘We were really dominant, created a lot going forward and had plenty of chances. If the match had ended in a draw we would have been frustrated, so imagine how we feel after a defeat.
Asked about the incidents in the closing stages, including Espi’s disallowed goal and Mbappe’s fluffed penalty, the Portuguese coach refused to be drawn into refereeing controversies.
‘Honestly, I don’t know why we lost. We created a lot of chances, missed three or four of them, and their goalkeeper also made three or four exceptional saves,’ said Mourinho.
‘I have nothing to reproach my players for. We probably deserved to win, but deserving to win does not earn you any points.’-AFP