Athletic Bilbao produced a battling display at San Mamés on Sunday evening, defeating Sevilla 3-2 in a gripping La Liga contest that swung back and forth before Robert Navarro’s late strike sealed all three points for the Basques.
Williams Breaks the Deadlock
The home side started strongly, driven forward by their energetic midfield and the pace of Nico Williams on the wing. Their pressure paid off in the 36th minute when Williams calmly slotted home from the penalty spot after a Sevilla defender was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
Seven minutes later, Athletic doubled their lead. Maroan Sannadi found himself in space at the edge of the area and rifled a low shot past the Sevilla goalkeeper to send the San Mamés faithful into raptures. At 2-0, Ernesto Valverde’s side looked in full control heading into the interval.
Sevilla Fight Back
But Sevilla were not ready to roll over. After regrouping at halftime, they came out with renewed intensity. Their breakthrough arrived on the hour mark when Belgian forward Dodi Lukebakio cut inside from the right and curled a superb finish into the far corner, giving the visitors hope.
Just twelve minutes later, the Andalusian side completed the comeback. Midfielder Lucien Agoumé rose highest from a corner to nod home Sevilla’s second, leveling the score at 2-2 and silencing the home crowd.
Navarro Delivers the Winner
Athletic, however, showed their resilience. As the match ticked toward its final stages, substitute Robert Navarro provided the decisive moment. Picking up a loose ball in the Sevilla half, Navarro surged forward before unleashing a driven shot that nestled into the back of the net. His 78th-minute strike restored Athletic’s advantage and proved enough to clinch victory.
A Statement Win for Bilbao
The result means Athletic Bilbao maintain their strong start to the campaign, showing both attacking flair and the grit to respond under pressure. Sevilla, meanwhile, will be left ruing their defensive lapses after working so hard to get back into the game.
With Williams continuing to shine and young talents like Navarro stepping up, Athletic look set to be one of La Liga’s most exciting teams to watch this season.