Bilbao, Spain, April 13, 2026 – Villarreal delivered a clinical first-half performance to secure a vital 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés in La Liga Round 31, despite a late fightback from the home side. The Yellow Submarine took control of the match early and never looked back, netting twice before the interval to silence the famously raucous home crowd.
Match Summary
| Match Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | La Liga – Round 31 |
| Match | Athletic Bilbao vs Villarreal |
| Date | 13th Apr 2026 |
| Time | 02:00 |
| Half-Time | 0 – 2 |
| Full-Time | 1 – 2 |
First-Half Blitz Decides the Contest
Villarreal broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when S. Cardona found the back of the net, catching the Athletic defense off guard. As the half drew to a close, the visitors doubled their advantage deep into first-half stoppage time. A. Gonzales struck in the 45+5th minute, sending Villarreal into the tunnel with a commanding 2-0 lead.
Athletic Bilbao looked disjointed and sluggish in the opening 45 minutes, unable to cope with Villarreal’s sharp transitions and precise finishing.

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Guruzeta’s Late Reply Not Enough
The home side emerged with renewed purpose after the break, pressing high and attempting to break down a resilient Villarreal defense. However, chances remained scarce until the dying embers of the match.
In the 84th minute, G. Guruzeta gave the Basque faithful a glimmer of hope, pulling one back to make it 2-1. The goal ignited San Mamés, but Villarreal held firm through six minutes of added time to claim all three points.
Goal Scorers
| Minute | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 26′ | S. Cardona | Villarreal |
| 45+5′ | A. Gonzales | Villarreal |
| 84′ | G. Guruzeta | Athletic Bilbao |
The result is a significant blow for Athletic Bilbao, who failed to capitalize on home advantage and remain stuck on 31 rounds without a positive result in this fixture. For Villarreal, the victory underscores their resilience and ability to perform on the road against top-tier opposition.
Villarreal will look to build on this momentum, while Athletic must regroup quickly to avoid slipping further down the La Liga table.
Source: Oddspedia


