Athletic Club Cruise Past Alaves 4-2 in Saturday Thriller
Williams brothers shine as Athletic Club expose injury-hit Alaves defense
Athletic Club made the trip to Estadio Mendizorrotza on Saturday afternoon and came away with a commanding 4-2 victory that showcased their attacking prowess against an injury-ravaged Alaves side.
The match unfolded as a tale of two contrasting approaches. While both teams enjoyed equal possession at 50%, Athletic Club's superior quality in the final third proved decisive. The visitors generated better chances throughout, registering an expected goals figure of 0.93 compared to Alaves' modest 0.49.
The Williams brothers were at the heart of Athletic's success. Nicholas Williams Arthuer was particularly electric, netting twice and adding an assist for a stellar 7.4 SAM rating performance worth 25.7 fantasy points. His pace and directness caused constant problems for the Alaves backline. Meanwhile, Gorka Guruzeta Rodriguez orchestrated play beautifully from the striker position, contributing two assists and three tackles en route to the match's highest SAM rating of 7.7.
Oihan Sancet Tirapu added the creative spark from his attacking midfield role, bagging a goal and putting in defensive work with two tackles for a solid 7.0 SAM rating. The trio's combination play was a joy to watch and highlighted why Athletic Club have been so effective this season.
Alaves fought valiantly despite their extensive injury list that ruled out key players Lucas Ariel Boyé and Carlos Nahuel Benavídez Protesoni through muscle injuries. Antonio Blanco Conde led their response with a goal and defensive contribution, earning a respectable 6.4 SAM rating. Facundo Nahuel Tenaglia also found the net from right-back, showcasing the attacking intent that kept them in the contest.
Tactically, Athletic Club's ability to create seven shots inside the box compared to Alaves' four proved crucial. Their higher pass accuracy of 82% versus 78% also demonstrated better control in possession phases. The visitors' corner count of seven to four further illustrated their territorial dominance.
The victory keeps Athletic Club's European ambitions alive as they continue to build momentum in the final weeks of the campaign. For Alaves, this result highlights how their injury crisis has severely impacted their defensive solidity, with goals prevented statistics showing -0.89 for both sides indicating defensive vulnerabilities.
With Matchweek 34 complete, Athletic Club's attacking display will give fans plenty of optimism heading into the season's closing stages, while Alaves must regroup and hope for some returning bodies to shore up their leaky defense.