Athletic Club defeats Atlético de Madrid 3-0 in San Mamés with an outstanding second half

Athletic Club beat Atlético de Madrid this Saturday in San Mamés (3-0), on matchday 4 of LaLiga, a match in which an outstanding second half by the hosts, with goals from Nico Williams, Robert Navarro and Oihan Sancet, ended the hopes of Diego Pablo Simeone's team, who suffered their first defeat of the season.

The start of the red and white team was encouraging. Despite the very high pressure from Athletic, the colchoneros came out perfectly and put together a play that ended with a cross shot by Kang-In Lee, from the inside left of the area, which crashed into the post. But the locals, based on push and set pieces, equalized the match, with Iñaki Williams scoring the first goal.

Terzic's men had definitively turned the dominance around and were close to taking the lead before the 20th minute with a left-footed shot from Sancet that went into the side of the net. However, the hydration break would change the dynamics of the match, with the colchoneros established more in the rival field, although only involving Unai Simón with a shot by Álex Baena.

Thus, both teams went to the locker room with a goalless tie on the scoreboard. After the restart, a forced change for Athletic, who had to bring on Aitor Paredes instead of Yeray Álvarez, who suffered a severe blow to the head in the final stretch of the first half. And the home team's start to the second half would be unbeatable. Before the third minute of the game was up, the locals would give the game two blows.

First, a counterplay by Terzic's men, before the 46th minute was up, would end with a left-footed shot by Iñaki Williams that ran into Hancko, a key deflection for Nico Williams, with his head, to beat Jan Oblak. But Athletic, like in Vigo, went for more. And in the next play, the red and whites stole in the rival field and Iñaki Williams enabled Robert Navarro who, after cutting Hancko, defined the long post with his left foot to score the second.

The game had become complicated for Atlético and Simeone would revolutionize the team with four changes in one fell swoop. Julián Álvarez, Koke, Arnau and 'Cuti' Romero, who was making his debut, took to the field in place of Giuliano, Kang-In Lee, Hjulmand and Lookman. To which Terzic would respond by refreshing the midfield with Mikel Jauregizar instead of a tired Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta.

Half an hour remained in the game, with Athletic Club lying in a low block, leaving all the initiative to the visitors. Of course, without giving up the third party on the counter. Furthermore, the German coach refreshed the attack with the entry of Johaneko and Alex Berenguer instead of Iñaki Williams and Robert Navarro. A change with which the lions also changed their disposition to a defense of five.

And despite the control, it was difficult for Atlético de Madrid to create danger on Unai Simón's goal. Julián Álvarez would be the only one who would have an option before the hydration break, with a low left-footed shot, on the half turn, to which the Alava goalkeeper responded with a great hand. However, he was unable to continue with more arrivals in the following minutes.

What would end up coming, with Atlético already with more faith than football, would be the definitive blow for Athletic Club in the match. On the counterattack, and confirming the red and whites' very good final minutes of the game, Oihan Sancet would make his debut as a goalscorer in the League and score the third of the game. A goal that confirmed the great second half of Terzic's team, who were experiencing their first victory in San Mamés.