Athletic Club overcame a spirited Levante side with a 4-2 victory, powered by a Gorka Guruzeta double and a crucial early red card for the visitors.
The La Liga clash at a lively Estadio de San Mamés on February 8, 2026, saw Athletic Club (11th, 25 points) looking to improve their inconsistent form. Meanwhile, 19th-placed Levante (18 points) arrived eager to escape the relegation zone. Both teams had much to play for.
The match turned decisively in the 17th minute. Levante defender Alex Matturro received a straight red card for a professional foul, leaving his team with ten men. This early dismissal drastically altered Levante's game plan and gave Athletic a significant advantage.
Athletic capitalized on their numerical superiority just past the half-hour mark. In the 29th minute, Gorka Guruzeta slotted home the opener, expertly assisted by Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta. The home crowd erupted as their team took the lead.
Five minutes later, Guruzeta struck again. He netted his second of the afternoon in the 34th minute, this time from a precise pass by Iñaki Williams. Athletic entered halftime with a commanding two-goal advantage, seemingly in control.
Levante faced an uphill battle at the break, down two goals and a man. They needed a strategic reshuffle and immense resilience to mount any challenge in the second half. Athletic, conversely, aimed to maintain their composure and see out the result.
Despite their disadvantage, Levante showed grit after the restart. Both teams made several substitutions as the second half unfolded. Athletic looked to manage the game, while Levante searched for a way back.
Levante found a lifeline in the 81st minute. Unai Elgezabal pulled one back, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope against the odds. The goal injected a burst of energy into the Levante attack, making for a tense final period.
However, Athletic quickly extinguished any comeback aspirations. In the 86th minute, substitute Nico Serrano drilled home Athletic's third goal, assisted by Selton Sanchez. This restored their two-goal lead and seemed to seal the victory for the home side.
The drama was not over yet. Jon Ander Olasagasti scored for Levante in the 90+4th minute, again reducing the shortfall to one. This late goal offered a final glimmer of hope.
However, Athletic had the last word. Robert Navarro netted in the 90+9th minute, following another assist from Iñaki Williams. This secured the 4-2 triumph for the home side.
The statistics reflected Athletic's dominance, particularly after the red card. They accumulated 1.71 Expected Goals (xG) from 22 total shots, with 7 on target, alongside 55% possession. Levante managed only 0.5 xG and 6 shots, with 3 on target.
This comprehensive victory sees Athletic Club consolidate their mid-table position, gaining valuable points in the La Liga standings. Levante, despite their valiant effort with ten men, remains entrenched in the relegation battle, needing to find form swiftly.
