In a decisive UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg at San Mamés on April 17, 2025, Athletic Bilbao secured a 2-0 win against Rangers, clinching a 2-0 aggregate victory and advancing to the semifinals. This achievement marks only the third time in the club’s history that they have reached this stage of European competition .
Match Summary
- 44′ – Oihan Sancet (Penalty): Sancet calmly converted a penalty just before halftime after Maroan Sannadi was fouled in the box by John Souttar .
- 87′ – Nico Williams: Williams sealed the victory with a powerful header from an Óscar de Marcos cross, igniting celebrations among the 52,114 fans in attendance .
Rangers had their chances, notably when Nicolas Raskin struck the post in the second half, but they couldn’t find the back of the net. Athletic’s defense, led by Dani Vivian and Yeray Álvarez, remained resolute throughout the match .
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Athletic Bilbao | Rangers FC |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 56(%) | 44(%) |
| Shots | 22 | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 2 |
| Corners | 6 | 3 |
| Fouls Committed | 15 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
Post-Match Reactions
- Ernesto Valverde (Athletic Bilbao Manager): “We wanted to inject a lot of pace into the game from the start. The team’s energy and determination were key to our success.”
- Barry Ferguson (Rangers Manager): Ferguson expressed frustration over two unawarded penalties, stating, “We had two clear penalties that weren’t given. It’s disappointing, but we must learn and move forward.”
Next Fixture
Athletic Bilbao will face Manchester United in the Europa League semifinals. The first leg is scheduled to take place at Old Trafford, with dates to be confirmed by UEFA.
