Bilbao, Spain – Under the bright lights of San Mamés Barria, Nico Williams delivered a stellar performance, guiding Athletic Bilbao to a convincing 3-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League.

From the first whistle, the Basque side dictated the tempo, and in the 25th minute, the Williams brothers combined to unlock Plzen’s defense. Iñaki Williams found his younger sibling with a perfectly weighted pass, and Nico, showing his trademark composure, curled a left-footed shot into the top corner, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Bilbao’s relentless pressure paid off again in the second half. In the 64th minute, Alex Berenguer floated in a pinpoint cross, and Yeray Álvarez rose highest to nod home, doubling the lead. However, Viktoria Plzen refused to go down without a fight. Milan Havel capitalized on a rare defensive lapse in the 71st minute, briefly igniting hopes of a comeback.

As tensions rose, Plzen’s fate was sealed when Daniel Vasulin saw red for a reckless challenge in the 89th minute. With the visitors down to ten men, Athletic struck once more in stoppage time. Oihan Sancet split the defense with a brilliant through ball, and substitute Javier Martón applied the finishing touch to secure the 3-1 win.

With this triumph, Ernesto Valverde’s men remain firmly in the hunt for Europa League glory. Now, their attention shifts to a crucial La Liga showdown against Real Betis on February 2nd.