Espanyol, in the 17th round of La Liga 2025/26, defeated Athletic (2:1).

Espanyol continues the fight for the Champions League, holding fifth position in the standings. In case of a victory over Athletic in Bilbao, the Catalans wouldn’t climb anywhere, but the gap to fourth place – where Villarreal is entrenched – would shrink to two points. Athletic, on the other hand, was fighting for a breakthrough to seventh place, where even a draw would suffice.

The starting whistle at San Mamés was preceded by an interesting performance. The Basque crowd was greeted before Christmas by the local Santa Claus and Snow Maiden – Olentzero and Maridominga. Athletic’s Twitter expressed hope that they would gift three points to the home team.

Athletic really tried hard. The hosts were significantly more active, possessing the ball 64% of the time (reaching 75% in the second half) and taking more shots. Already in the 13th minute, Gorosabel could have opened the scoring, stealing the ball from a defender in the penalty area and shooting from the goal line – however, Dmitrovic saved Espanyol.

In the 29th minute, another interception in the opponent’s third continued with a pass from Nico Williams to the edge of the penalty area, from where Berenguer hammered it. Alex aimed for the bottom left, but Dmitrovic parried. Eventually, such football led to a goal – a series of rebounds in front of the “parrots’” penalty area ended with a blocked shot from Nico, with a fortunate ricochet to Berenguer’s path. He outpaced the defender and goalkeeper, opening the score. 1:0!

Espanyol immediately snapped back with their own interception and a shot from the right corner of the penalty area, but Simon saved. In the 43rd minute, the Catalans unexpectedly equalized – Carlos Romero received a rebound after a set-piece delivery and hammered it on the volley from about 25 meters. Right into the far bottom corner! 1:1.

That’s the score with which the teams went to rest. The second half started disastrously for the “lions” – Dolan in the 52nd minute stole the ball from Boyro and delivered a cross from the right flank, which Milla finished off at the goal line. 1:2! The “parrots” took the lead.

This greatly disappointed the hosts, especially considering the goal-scoring chance three minutes before conceding (Iñaki Williams shot under the right post, Dmitrovic was in place again). The shocked Basques tried to press the visitors, but it didn’t work out well – in the 82nd minute, they could have conceded due to an error on the right flank. Simon had to save from two one-on-one exits at acute angles.

Only in added time did Athletic manage to pile on properly. Dmitrovic made a save after Berenguer’s close-range shot, and after one of the crosses, Gomez hammered into an empty net – and missed!

In the end, the final whistle recorded Espanyol’s fifth consecutive victory, now lacking just two points to Villarreal (and thus to the Champions League zone). However, the “Yellow Submarine” has a game in hand.