Nico Williams Shines in Athletic Bilbao's 3-0 Victory Over Atletico Madrid

Nico Williams lit up San Mames and ripped open Atletico Madrid’s resistance in the space of a breathless minute, driving Athletic Bilbao to a statement 3-0 win and their second La Liga victory of the season.

For Diego Simeone’s side, it was a collapse. For Athletic, it felt like the start of something.

Williams brothers ignite San Mames

The breakthrough came from a familiar source, born in the chaos that the Williams brothers thrive on.

Early in the second half, Inaki Williams let fly with a shot that ricocheted into the box. Nico reacted first, darting into the space and guiding a header past the keeper to send San Mames into a roar. It was his first league goal since May, when he struck twice against Alaves, and it carried the weight of a player ready to reassert himself.

Before Atletico could steady themselves, they were hit again.

Seconds after the restart, Athletic sprang forward on a ruthless counter. Nico and Inaki combined at full tilt, shredding Atletico’s shape and leaving the visitors exposed. The move ended with Robert Navarro arriving to tuck home the second, a swift, clinical finish that underlined the speed and clarity of Athletic’s attacking play.

In barely a minute, Simeone’s team had been dismantled.

Terzic’s stamp on Athletic

Oihan Sancet later added a composed third to cap the night and turn a strong performance into a commanding scoreline, but the tone of the evening had already been set: this was Edin Terzic’s Athletic, and it looked sharp, aggressive, and brave.

Nico Williams did not hide where he felt the difference lay. He pointed straight to the man on the touchline.

“The manager we have is spectacular, and you can see it on the pitch,” he said after the final whistle. “He's instilled many new things in us that we're grasping perfectly.”

The winger highlighted the turning point at half-time, when Athletic emerged with renewed intensity and a clearer edge.

“In the second half, he really got us into the game with a great talk in the locker room,” Nico added. “We're very happy with the manager's style of play.”

Terzic, for his part, looked satisfied but not surprised. His side had ridden an early scare when Kang-In Lee struck the post, then grown into the contest with authority. He praised the courage of his players and the surge of energy from the stands at San Mames, a combination that gradually pushed Atletico back and then tore them apart.

Athletic’s tactical flexibility stood out. They adjusted on the fly, shifting to a back three in the second half to blunt Atletico’s changes and close down space, all while keeping their own attacking threat alive.

“I see a team that’s always ready to fight for victory,” Terzic said. “For me, the most important thing has been how we reacted... we showed real courage.”

Momentum builds in Bilbao

Back-to-back league wins have given Athletic more than just six points. They have given the team a sense of direction.

Nico spoke of how the three points tasted even better coming on the heels of their recent away triumph, a result he felt had already injected belief into the squad. This victory over elite opposition only deepened that conviction and strengthened faith in Terzic’s long-term vision.

The German coach, though, refused to bask in the glow for long. He made it clear the focus snaps immediately to Saturday’s league encounter with Elche CF, another chance to turn momentum into something more permanent.

Athletic have their crowd, their courage, and now a clear idea of who they want to be. If nights like this become a habit, how high can this team climb?