International Club Friendly

Leioa 0–11 Athletic Club: Basque Giants Run Riot in Pre-Season Rout

In a pre-season friendly that will live long in the memory, Athletic Club delivered a merciless 11-0 demolition of local neighbours Leioa on the night of 19 July 2026. The match, played at Leioa's modest municipal stadium, was expected to be a useful test for both sides ahead of the new campaign, but Athletic’s relentless attacking display turned it into a one-sided masterclass. The visitors, already well into their pre-season preparations under new head coach Ernesto Valverde, showed no mercy as they ran riot from the first whistle.

Match Overview

From the opening minutes, it was clear that the gulf in class between the two sides was vast. Athletic Club, a perennial fixture in La Liga, controlled possession with surgical precision, while Leioa—competing in the lower tiers of Spanish football—could barely string passes together. The scoreline could have been even more emphatic had it not been for a few wayward efforts and the woodwork. By full-time, Athletic had registered 11 different scorers, a testament to their fluid attacking movement and Leioa’s defensive disarray.

Key Moments

• 3rd minute: Athletic opened the scoring through a crisp finish from Iñaki Williams, who latched onto a through ball inside the box.
• 17th minute: A spectacular long-range strike from Oihan Sancet made it 2-0, leaving the Leioa goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
• 32nd minute: The visitors poured forward again, with Nico Williams scoring a close-range header after a cross from the right flank.
• 41st minute: By half-time, Athletic had already notched six goals, with Raúl García and two other midfielders getting on the scoresheet.
• Second half: The substitution of several regulars did not halt the onslaught. Youngsters such as Unai Gómez and Julen Agirrezabala (scoring a rare goal from a corner) added to the tally.
• 88th minute: The final goal came from Asier Villalibre, who rounded off a flowing team move to complete the 11-0 rout.

Tactical Story

Atletic’s high press suffocated Leioa’s attempts to build from the back. The home side’s midfield was overrun, and their backline repeatedly gave away possession in dangerous areas. Athletic, in turn, exploited the spaces with quick diagonal passes and overlapping runs from full-backs. The scoreline reflected not only a difference in technical quality but also in physical preparation—Leioa looked sluggish and leggy, while Athletic’s players seemed sharp and coordinated. For Valverde, it was a perfect workout to test his new tactical shape, with the team switching between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 formation seamlessly.

Standout Players

Iñaki Williams led the line with two goals and three assists, his pace a constant menace. Oihan Sancet orchestrated the midfield and scored a cracking long-range effort. Young full-back Yuri Berchiche also impressed with his overlapping runs and two assists. For Leioa, goalkeeper Álex Fernández made a string of saves to keep the score from reaching double figures earlier, but he could do nothing to stem the tide.

Season Impact

For Athletic Club, this friendly serves as a powerful statement of intent ahead of the 2026–27 season. The Basque side will look to challenge for European places, and the fluidity of their attacking play suggests they could be a force to be reckoned with. Leioa, meanwhile, will have little time to dwell on this heavy defeat, as they turn their focus to their own league campaign, hoping to build resilience from a harsh pre-season lesson. The match drew a small but partisan crowd, with Athletic fans celebrating a memorable pre-season drubbing of their neighbours.