After their action-packed 3-2 opening weekend victory against Sevilla, the first half proved to be a drab rude awakening for the home fans, as Athletic Club produced a first half littered with mistakes and calamities.
The tone of a frustrating half was set in the opening two minutes, as a wayward pass allowed Vallecano forward Jorge De Frutos in on goal, and his tame effort somehow crept through the legs of Unai Simon but was cleared off the line.
De Frutos proved to be an industrious nuisance to the home side’s jittery defence but, in keeping with the match itself, struggled to convert his work rate into any genuine chances.
Ernesto Valverde’s men arose from their slumber shortly after the break, as a moment of rare quality produced the first real chance of the game. Even in a dull match, Nico Williams was typically effervescent, and with the outside of his foot, he drilled in a low cross to Inaki, but the older Williams brother fired wide from eight yards out.
It was the start of a crescendo of Athletic pressure that reached its peak on the 65-minute mark as they took the lead from the penalty spot. An eagle-eyed video assistant referee spotted a foul by Florian Lejeune on Oihan Sancet inside the box, and the latter picked himself up to fire home and release the pressure building in the San Mames.
The penalty proved to be a knockout blow for the visitors, with their midweek UEFA Conference League escapade to Hungary seemingly catching up with them.
With a second leg against Neman ahead of them, where they will have the chance to join today’s opponent in the league phase, Los Franjirrojos floundered in the closing stages, allowing Athletic Club to join Villarreal, Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the table with six points.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nico Williams (Athletic Club)