Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Athletic Bilbao: Super sub Sanchet inspires Athletic Club to comeback win over Rayo
Athletic Club overcame an early deficit to secure a 2-1 victory against Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas, thereby extending their unbeaten streak in LaLiga to six matches, thanks in large part to a remarkable brace from Oihan Sancet, who came off the bench.
Entering the match in Madrid with an impressive eight-game unbeaten run, Athletic faced a determined Rayo Vallecano side that was undeterred by the visitors' strong form.
The home team took the initiative early, scoring within the first 15 minutes when Randy Nteka capitalized on a critical error from Aitor Paredes, deftly lifting the ball over the advancing Julen Agirrezabala to give Rayo Vallecano their first goal in three league matches.
This goal ended Athletic’s run of three consecutive clean sheets in head-to-head encounters at Vallecas, preventing them from matching their record of four away shutouts against a single opponent in the top division, a feat last accomplished in 1982.
In response, the Basque side pressed for an equalizer, with Yuri Berchiche and Nico Williams both coming close from distance, but Augusto Batalla stood firm in goal, making a crucial save to thwart Alex Berenguer’s powerful long-range effort and preserving Rayo's narrow lead at halftime.
With an unbeaten record since early October, Ernesto Valverde sought to revitalize his team through a triple substitution. The tactical change quickly paid off, as Oihan Sancet, one of the new entrants, made an immediate impact by connecting with Nico Williams’ precise cross at the far post and executing a stunning volley into the bottom left corner, equalizing in the 66th minute.
Sancet then completed his brace in spectacular fashion, striking an unstoppable shot from outside the box into the far corner, thus securing a remarkable comeback with just 12 minutes left in the match.
The decisive strike confirmed the outcome, as Athletic maintained their impressive record of conceding no more than one goal in their last nine matches, showcasing their defensive strength against a Rayo team that has struggled to score more than once in their last five league fixtures.
Under the management of Inigo Perez, Rayo has now experienced three consecutive defeats in LaLiga, representing their poorest start to a top-flight season over the last 14 matches since the 2018/19 campaign, which regrettably culminated in relegation.
Conversely, the Lions have remained unbeaten in the top division since their narrow loss to Girona in early October. With this victory, Athletic ascended into the top four, achieving their 11th win in 14 top-flight encounters against the team from the Spanish capital.
SportsLigue