Despite being held to a goalless draw by ten-man Rangers at Ibrox last week, Athletic Club have edged one step closer to the UEFA Europa League final with a 2-0 win at San Mamés.
Ernesto Valverde’s men showed signs of promise throughout the first half, but while they found their early attempts thwarted by a resilient defence, Oihan Sancet slotted home from the penalty spot just before the break after Maroan Sannadi was felled inside the box.
But in spite of a positive showing in the second half from Barry Ferguson’s visitors, Athletic Club doubled their lead with ten minutes remaining as Nico Williams rose above James Tavernier at the back post to nod home and remove any doubt surrounding the result.
As it happened
Athletic Club’s San Mamés became a fervent cauldron of atmosphere once more as los Leones welcomed Rangers to the Basque Country on Thursday, with both sides seeking the opportunity to edge closer to the UEFA Europa League final after last week’s not-so-bore draw at Ibrox.
The Zurigorri looked to have the better opportunities of the opening stages, with Oihan Sancet denied by Ridvan Yılmaz before seeing another effort stifled by James Tavernier as he tried to pick up the pieces of Nico Williams’ initial strike.
Ernesto Valverde’s side had a plethora of chances to take the lead before the break, including a fine effort for Álex Berenguer inside the final ten minutes of the half as the midfielder curled just wide of the far post, and another opportunity sent narrowly off target by Nico Williams.
But despite those squandered chances, the Zurigorri roared into the lead in first-half stoppage time from twelve yards out, after John Souttar’s clumsy challenge on Maroan Sannadi inside the box. Sancet stepped up to despatch the resulting set-piece, burying into the bottom-left corner as Liam Kelly dived the other way.
Rangers’ task was made all the more difficult early in the second half when Leon Balogun was forced off the pitch following a collision with Souttar, but it didn’t appear to negatively affect the visitors’ performance as they continued to apply pressure on the Basque side.
Nicolas Raskin was unlucky to have struck the post just before the hour mark, with his close-range effort seemingly tipped onto the woodwork by Julen Agirrezabala as Rangers sought desperately to restore parity.
It’d be a missed opportunity that would come back to bite Barry Ferguson’s side, as with ten minutes left on the matchday clock, Nico Williams rose above James Tavernier at the back post to turn home a delightful cross from his captain, Oscar De Marcos.
Athletic Club will face either Manchester United or Olympique Lyonnais in the semi-finals, as they bid to qualify for the UEFA Europa League final which will be played at their home stadium, San Mamés.
The lineups
ATH: Agirrezabala; Lekue, Álvarez, Vivian, De Marcos; Jauregizar, Galarreta; N Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; Sannadi
RAN: Kelly; Balogun, Souttar, Tavernier; Jefté, Hagi, Raskin, Yılmaz; Diomande, Dessers, Černý