LaLiga: Athletic Club Come from Behind to Defeat Rayo Vallecano

Athletic Club staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Rayo Vallecano 2-1, thanks to a stunning brace from substitute Oihan Sancet, extending their unbeaten LaLiga run to six games.

Athletic Club staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 at the Estadio de Vallecas, with substitute Oihan Sancet scoring a breathtaking brace to seal the victory. This win extends Athletic Club's unbeaten run in LaLiga to six games, demonstrating their resilience and determination.

Despite arriving in Madrid on an impressive eight-game undefeated streak, Athletic Club faced a stern test against Rayo Vallecano. The hosts, Los Franjirrojos, were unfazed by Athletic's impressive form, and they initially took control of the match, scoring the opening goal to put the visitors on the back foot.

Rayo Vallecano secured an early advantage within the first 15 minutes of the match, capitalizing on a costly mistake by Aitor Paredes. Randy Nteka seized the opportunity, expertly lobbing the ball over the onrushing Julen Agirrezabala to score his side's first goal in three league outings. This breakthrough also ended Athletic Club's streak of three consecutive clean sheets at Vallecas, denying them the chance to equal their record of four away shutouts against a single opponent in the top flight, a feat last achieved in 1982.

Athletic Club promptly sought to respond, with Yuri Berchiche and Nico Williams both coming close to scoring from long range. However, Rayo Vallecano's goalkeeper, Augusto Batalla, proved to be a reliable presence between the posts. The Argentine made a crucial save to deny Alex Berenguer's powerful strike from distance, ensuring that the hosts maintained their slender lead going into the interval.

Seeking to maintain their unbeaten streak since early October, Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde made a bold triple substitution in an effort to inject new energy into his team. This tactical move paid off almost immediately, as one of the fresh substitutes, Oihan Sancet, made a profound impact on the game.

Sancet's introduction proved to be a game-changer, as he scored a brilliant equalizing goal in the 66th minute. The midfielder met Nico Williams' precise cross at the far post and unleashed a stunning volley into the bottom left corner, leveling the score. Sancet's hot streak continued as he sealed his brace in spectacular fashion, unleashing an unstoppable thunderbolt from outside the area into the far corner, completing a remarkable turnaround with 12 minutes remaining.

The decisive strike sealed the win for Athletic Club, who continued to showcase their defensive solidity by conceding no more than one goal in their last nine matches. This defensive prowess proved too much for Rayo Vallecano, who have struggled to score more than one goal in their last five league games.

Rayo Vallecano's defeat marked their third consecutive loss in LaLiga under manager Inigo Perez, resulting in their worst 14-game start to a top-flight campaign since the 2018/19 season, which ultimately ended in relegation. In contrast, Athletic Club remains unbeaten in the top flight since their narrow loss to Girona in early October. The victory propelled Athletic into the top four and marked their 11th win in 14 top-flight head-to-head encounters against Rayo Vallecano.