Villarreal cling on for win against Athletic Club and extend lead to four points in third place race

Regarded as a major threat before kick off, Athletic winger Nico Williams returned to the starting lineup for the first time in over two months following his injury recovery.

That said, Villarreal created the initial chance, forcing Unai Simon to produce a fine save to divert Pape Gueyes long range effort over the bar in the 11th minute.

The shot stopper was finally beaten in the 26th minute as the away team broke forward, with Tani Oluwaseyi delivering a cross for left back Sergi Cardona, who delicately chipped the ball over Simon for his first strike since August 2024.

Villarreal entered the match without a defeat after taking the lead in LaLiga this term (W16, D3), so the signs looked promising, yet the home side fought back strongly, seeing efforts from Yuri Berchiche and Mikel Jauregizar both deflect just wide from distance.

Still, the Lions suffered a cruel blow in the fifth minute of added time in the first half, when Alfon Gonzalez dispossessed Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta and surged through, before slotting past Simon for his debut goal since joining on loan from Sevilla back in January.

Athletic began the second period aggressively in pursuit of a comeback, but Simon was needed once more to deny Tajon Buchanan from an acute angle.

The home team mounted sustained attacks without truly troubling Luiz Junior, whereas the visitors preferred to hit on the counter, and Gonzalez missed a chance to make it three just shy of the hour, firing wide from 15 yards.

Ernesto Valverdes side nearly shipped a comical third when Georges Mikautadzes bold attempt from the halfway line clipped the bar on its way over, but they found a way back with six minutes remaining as leading scorer Gorka Guruzeta powered in his 14th goal of the campaign in all competitions from near point blank range.

Nicolas Pepe believed he had reestablished the two goal cushion late on, yet his effort was chalked off by VAR for an offside in the buildup.

Athletic failed to make the most of that let off and lost ground in the chase for seventh, now enduring a run of 15 LaLiga fixtures without a shutout.

Prospects appear much brighter for third placed Villarreal, who have virtually secured a UEFA Champions League spot next year, even though this marked just their second road success in the last eight LaLiga outings (D2, L4).