Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club produced a magnificent comeback at San Mamés on Thursday to progress into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League, edging one step closer to the final, which is set to be staged at the same stadium.
Needing to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg, the Zurigorri were aided in their mission when Mats Hummels was dismissed after just ten minutes but it took until the dying seconds of the first half for Nico Williams to restore aggregate parity at la Catedral.
Goals in the second half from Yuri Berchiche and another strike from Nico Williams wrapped up proceedings, with Claudio Ranieri’s Roma sent home empty-handed.
As it happened
A bright start from Athletic Club had failed to bear fruit for the Basque side, although Ernesto Valverde’s side were given the upper hand in their quest to progress to the quarter-finals when Mats Hummels was shown a straight red card for a rash last-man challenge on Maroan Sannadi.
Thursday’s hosts should have taken the lead at the midway point of the first half, as Angeliño’s clearance fell into the path of Unai Gómez. The midfielder sent a quick through ball forwards for Sannadi, though the forward failed to hit the target despite having just the goalkeeper to beat.
With the possession stats firmly in their favour and Roma struggling to contain their lively attacking unit, it was something of a miracle that the deadlock remained intact until the third minute of first-half stoppage time. Cutting inside from the right, Iñaki Williams’ cross was flicked on to Nico Williams on the opposite flank via a Sannadi header – and the Spaniard made no mistake with the finish.
The chances kept flowing for Athletic Club after the break: Iñaki Williams could have fired Athletic Club into the aggregate lead mere moments into the second half, but the winger’s header from close range was inexplicably sent off-target.
Álex Berenguer, the half-time replacement for Unai Gómez, came close to doubling the hosts’ lead on the night after a blistering counterattack that saw him able to dart into the box and cut onto his preferred right foot, only for Mile Svilar to produce a fine save to deny him.
But the Basque side found the second goal they’d been so desperately craving in the 68th minute, with Berenguer’s cross nodded home at the near post by Yuri Berchiche; the left-back’s header left Svilar with no chance.
Now in control of the fixture against ten men, Ernesto Valverde’s side looked to be settling towards the end of the match – until Nico Williams burst into life on the edge of the box. Receiving a cutback from Berchiche, the forward cut onto his right foot to dance past two defenders before dinking Svilar to remove any doubt surrounding Athletic Club’s progression.
Leandro Paredes’ converted penalty in stoppage time proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the visitors, after Andoni Gorosabel felled Stephan El Shaarawy inside the box.
Ernesto Valverde’s side will face Rangers next month, with the first leg to be played at Ibrox on Thursday 10 April.
The lineups
ATH: Agirrezabala; Berchiche, Paredes, Nunez, De Marcos; Gallareta, Jauregizar; N Williams, Gómez, I Williams; Sannadi
ASR: Svilar; N’Dicka, Hummels, Mancini; Angeliño, Paredes, Cristante, Rensch; Baldanzi, Dybala; Dovbyk