2-0: QUICKFIRE DOUBLE SEES US FALL TO DEFEAT AT SAN MAMÉS

Two first-half goals in quick succession condemned us to our third straight defeat. It was a dream send off for Raúl García and Iker Muniain, with both players getting on the scoresheet in their final game at the San Mamés.

Both of our most recent visits finished in 1-0 victories, but there was no such luck this season with the home side maintaining their early two-goal cushion until the final whistle.

The match came after a busy week at the club in which it was announced that head coach Quique Sánchez Flores will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Athletic took the lead with the game’s first real opportunity. Oscar de Marcos did well to create some space down the right-hand side before picking out García in the six-yard box. Unmarked and unchallenged, his powerful header flew past Ørjan Nyland’s fingertips and into the roof of the net. The sucker punch was dealt less than two minutes later, Muniain poking home from Nico Williams’s cut-back to double the lead with less than 20 minutes on the clock.

We responded well, however, looking to hit back instantly. Jesús Navas, following news of his contract renewal this week, crossed from the right flank, but Dodi Lukébakio could not keep his header down. Lucas Ocampos then tested Julen Agirrezabala in the Athletic net having been played through by Manu Bueno. The 19-year-old was making his first LaLiga start of the season with Boubakary Soumaré suspended. Lukébakio was the next player to force Agirrezabala into action, but his long-range effort was parried away by the Basque keeper.

Half-time substitute Adrià Pedrosa almost made an immediate impact, shooting just wide less than 60 seconds after the restart. Juanlu, also on as a substitute, made a darting run down the right before cleverly finding the other wing-back. Pedrosa, however, missed the left upright by a matter of inches.

As the heavens opened up in Bilbao, so too did the game with good chances coming for both sides. Nyland denied Nico Williams on three separate occasions while Lucien Agoumé’s back-post header forced Agirrezabala into an impressive reflex save. Sergio Ramos and García both saw headers sail over the bar from set-piece situations.

With time running out, Agoumé was denied once again. This time, his left-footed effort was tipped past the post. Ocampos, who had provided the cross for the Frenchman, then had a go from the edge of the area. His effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Defeat sees us drop down to 13th ahead of our final match of the season. Our LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 38 fixture against FC Barcelona is scheduled to kick off at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán at 21:00 CEST on Saturday 25 May.