Fenerbahce 0-2 Athletic Bilbao: Inaki Williams at the double as Los Leones cruise past 10-man hosts
Athletic Club maintained their strong performance in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) with a commendable 2-0 win against 10-man Fenerbahçe SK in Istanbul, marking their 12th consecutive match without defeat across all competitions (W9, D3).
The Basque team arrived in the Turkish capital aiming to preserve their unbeaten streak in the UEL against a Fenerbahçe squad they faced for the first time in a competitive setting.
The disparity in points was evident from the outset, as the home team quickly pressured Athletic into their defensive zone, with discontented boos echoing throughout the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.
Despite the initial pressure, it was Fenerbahçe who faltered first when Samet Akaydin attempted a careless pass back to his goalkeeper, which was intercepted by the advancing Gorka Guruzeta. Guruzeta then calmly set up Iñaki Williams, who easily converted to give Athletic the lead.
Undeterred by the early setback, Fenerbahçe resumed their pressing game, resulting in a midfield battle for much of the half.
The visitors had an opportunity to double their advantage when Guruzeta found himself in the box, but his shot was skillfully saved by Dominik Livaković.
As halftime approached, Mert Müldür nearly equalized with a curling shot from the edge of the area, but his effort narrowly missed the far post.
This missed chance proved costly for the hosts, as Williams struck again just before the break. Receiving the ball on the right side of the box, the Ghanaian international opted for a shot from a tight angle, successfully beating Livaković at his near post.
The second half commenced with no reduction in intensity, as both teams continued to vie for control. However, it was Athletic who created more scoring opportunities, with Guruzeta and Álex Berenguer both failing to capitalize on their chances.
Just when it appeared that the hosts could potentially re-enter the match, they encountered another obstacle, as Müldür was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Williams, effectively stifling their momentum.
Although they managed to challenge the visitors until the final whistle, this represents yet another setback for Fenerbahçe, who must now secure victories in their remaining two UEL league phase matches to advance to the knockout stage.
In the meantime, Athletic ascends to the top of the table for at least the next 24 hours, with an automatic qualification for the last 16 now looking nearly assured for Ernesto Valverde and his squad.
SportsLigue