Every match Athletic Club play at home in the Europa League this season is a dress rehearsal. That’s what the Basque club hope they are, anyway, what with the competition’s final taking place at San Mamés. If all goes to plan, Ernesto Valverde’s team will have one more home game at the end of May.
The quarter-final win over Rangers was Athletic’s most momentous European night so far this season. Having got through a first leg with 10 men, the Glasgow outfit were stubborn opponents. Athletic had to dig deep to make it through, but their players came up with enough quality, Nico Williams more than anyone else.
Williams scored the second goal of the 2-0 win over Rangers, ghosting in at the back post to head home a deep cross 10 minutes from the end. It was at this moment that Athletic Club knew they were through to the final four and that their most eye-catching difference-maker was back to his best.
This season has been a struggle for Williams. Last summer was a breakout moment for the winger who was a key player for Spain as they won Euro 2024. This led to intense speculation about a big money transfer to Barcelona which failed to materialise when the cash-strapped Catalans couldn’t find the money.
While Williams registered 16 goal contributions in LaLiga for Athletic Club last season, he has only notched 10 this term. The 22-year-old has struggled for consistent form with blaming the transfer speculation for distracting him. To make matters worse, Williams’ Spain counterpart Lamine Yamal is getting better and better at club level while Raphinha – the player Williams was meant to replace at Barca – is thriving.
Now, though, Williams is once again producing the goods when it matters most. He has found the back of the net in each of his last two starting appearances, also scoring twice in Athletic Club’s Europa League round of 16 victory over Roma. Williams once more looks like the player that lit up Euro 2024 last summer.
Manchester United have plenty to be wary of as they prepare to face Athletic Club on Thursday night. Ruben Amorim’s team are relying on the Europa League to save their season, but there’s not much to suggest they will get past an Athletic outfit that has momentum on their side and an attacker in the form of Williams.
Lyon came within a few minutes of knocking United out of this season’s Europa League, but Athletic Club will pose an even greater threat. This is a team sitting comfortably in LaLiga’s top four and a team that has won eight of their 12 Europa League matches. Nobody earned more points than Athletic (19) in the League Phase.
United’s chances of spoiling Athletic’s party by making the final at San Mamés have been improved by the news that Oihan Sancet will miss the first leg of the semi-final encounter and is an injury doubt for the second leg. Sancet has registered 17 goals this season and is considered one of the best attacking midfielders in Spanish football right now.
Nonetheless, Athletic will carry enough threat through Williams and his brother Iñaki Williams who are expected to start on either side of the forward line. Manchester United have been vulnerable in the space between the wide centre backs and the wing backs. This is an area Athletic Club will almost certainly target.
By most measures, Iñaki is having a better season than Nico. The older of the two brothers has scored more goals. He has also created more Big Chances and has a higher Expected Assists (xA) over the course of the campaign. Nico, however, is Athletic’s most prolific dribbler by some distance and gives them a different dimension.
That Williams only came off the bench for last week’s match against Las Palmas said something about how important Valverde considers the winger to Athletic’s chances of winning the Europa League. Without Williams, the Basque side might not have the attacking dynamism to make the final and win the whole thing.
Europa League glory could be the perfect way for Williams to sign off as an Athletic Club player. Barcelona’s interest might have cooled due to the incredible, and unexpected, form of Raphinha, but Arsenal have been linked with the Spanish international. Many clubs will be tempted to activate the €60m release clause in Williams’ contract.
Athletic Club supporters believe winning the Europa League this season is their destiny. So does José Mourinho who mischievously implied UEFA is favouring the Basques to ensure they play in their own final. Athletic, however, have to earn that destiny and Williams is working hard in every dress rehearsal to put his team on the big stage.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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