Athletic Bilbao edge Rayo Vallecano 1-0 as Sancet’s penalty seals victory, fans buzzing over the club’s perfect La Liga start.
Athletic Club edged Rayo Vallecano 1–0 at San Mames to make it two wins from two in La Liga. After a tense first half in which Rayo pressed high and disrupted the hosts, Ernesto Valverde’s side found their moment after the break and took control of the key phases. The stadium roared, and Athletic did just enough to turn pressure into points.
The winner came in the 66th minute. Oihan Sancet pinched the ball in the box, drew a foul, and then buried the penalty himself. A brief VAR check confirmed the call, and the midfielder’s cool finish settled a tight game. It was a timely impact from Sancet, who has just returned from a preseason knock and looked sharp when it mattered.
READ MORE: Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest Share Points in Fiery 1-1 Draw
Numbers back up the story. Rayo had more of the ball but created little, finishing with just one shot on target. Athletic were the more dangerous side when chances did arrive, posting more shots on goal and forcing the issue late on. Discipline also told: Rayo collected multiple bookings, while Athletic kept their composure to see it out.
READ MORE: Inter Milan Destroy Torino 5-0 as Martinez Shines at San Siro
Big picture; six points from six puts Athletic among the early pacesetters and sets a confident tone at San Mames. For Rayo, the plan worked for long stretches but lacked punch in the final third. They’ll take heart from the organization and intensity, yet know they need more cutting edge to turn solid play into results next time out.
