Nico Williams Shines in Athletic Bilbao's 3-0 Victory Over Atletico Madrid
Nico Williams lit up San Mames and tore into Atletico Madrid’s resistance, driving Athletic Bilbao to a statement 3-0 win and a second straight La Liga victory.
For Diego Simeone’s side, it all unraveled in 60 chaotic seconds.
Williams brothers ignite San Mames
The breakthrough came from a familiar source. Early in the second half, Inaki Williams let fly inside the box, his effort diverted into a dangerous area. Nico reacted first, attacking the ball and guiding his header into the net to send San Mames into a roar.
It was his first league goal since May, when he struck twice against Alaves. The wait ended in front of a stadium that has watched him grow, and he responded with a performance that felt like a coming-of-age marker.
Atletico barely had time to reset.
Seconds after the opener, Athletic broke with venom. Nico surged forward, combining at speed with Inaki on a rapid counter. The brothers sliced through Atletico’s shape and released Robert Navarro, who finished off a ruthless move for 2-0. One minute. Two goals. Simeone’s game plan shredded.
From that point, the night belonged to the Lions.
Terzic’s hand on the wheel
Nico’s display carried the headlines, but his words afterwards pointed straight to the dugout. The winger credited head coach Edin Terzic for reshaping the team’s identity.
“The manager we have is spectacular, and you can see it on the pitch,” Nico said. “He's instilled many new things in us that we're grasping perfectly.”
The turning point, in his eyes, came at half-time.
“In the second half, he really got us into the game with a great talk in the locker room,” he added. “We're very happy with the manager's style of play.”
Terzic’s influence showed in more than just the intensity. Athletic adjusted smartly over the 90 minutes, especially after an early warning when Kang-In Lee struck the post and briefly silenced the home crowd. The German coach responded by tightening the structure, then shifting to a back three after the break to blunt Atletico’s tactical tweaks and give his side greater control.
He liked what he saw.
“I see a team that’s always ready to fight for victory,” Terzic said. “For me, the most important thing has been how we reacted... we showed real courage.”
That courage was matched by the noise around them. Terzic highlighted the backing from the San Mames stands, a wall of sound that swelled with every tackle and every sprint as Athletic pressed high and refused to let Atletico breathe.
Statement win, growing belief
With Atletico chasing a way back into the contest, space opened and Athletic never stopped hunting. Oihan Sancet delivered the final blow late on, adding a third to seal a scoreline that reflected the home side’s authority and composure.
Back-to-back league wins now give Athletic more than just points. They bring momentum, and with it, conviction.
Nico admitted the three points tasted even sweeter coming on the back of their recent away victory, a combination that has hardened belief in Terzic’s long-term project and the tactical shifts he has demanded.
The message from the coach, though, stayed sharp. No lingering on a famous night, no time for self-congratulation. Terzic made it clear the focus snaps immediately to Saturday’s league clash with Elche CF.
If Athletic keep playing with this edge, that fixture will not feel like just another game. It will feel like another chance to prove this surge is not a flash in the pan but the start of something more permanent.
