Atlético left San Mamés empty, where they added their fourth defeat of the season, all away from home, in a duel in which they were always uncomfortable, surpassed by the intensity of Athletic Club, which has only lost in its stadium in the first day against Real Madrid. The result was short of the merits of Ernesto Valverde's men, who had many chances and even missed a penalty.
The duel served as a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Basque club. Before the start, a statue of tribute to José Ángel Iríbar was inaugurated in the surroundings of San Mamés and the golfer Jon Rahm, news in recent days for his millionaire signing for the Saudi LIV, took the honorary kick-off.
Simeone introduced four changes compared to the Champions League match against Lazio to refresh the team, with three games in a row before the Christmas break. They didn't work for him, especially the debut of the Turkish Soyuncu who committed a fairly innocent penalty on Nico Williams.
Atlético had a very bad time from the first stages. In the fifth minute, a save by Oblak prevented Gorka Guruzeta from scoring. In the eleven it was Iñaki Williams who could have scored, but his shot went off the post. The clearest chance of the first half came at 37 in Soyuncu's penalty against the youngest Williams. Sancet, who had scored his two previous maximum penalties, looked for the top corner and launched the ball over the crossbar. In the 41st minute, Nico Williams hit the post.
Rodrigo de Paul and Giménez entered for the second half instead of Nahuel Molina and the ill-advised Soyuncu. But the changes did not improve the colchoneros at all. In the 51st minute, Athletic scored with a great assist from Ander Herrera so that Guruzeta scored off the mark to make it 1-0.
Memphis Depay and Ángel Correa entered in search of the goal but among those substituted there was a surprise because one of those changed was Griezmann, the club's most differential player, and the other Saúl.
Atlético won possession, taking a step forward, but Atlético made it 2-0 in the 65th minute in a counterattack that Nico Williams finished with a monumental screw to which Oblak could not respond.
After the goal Simeone removed Morata for César Azpilicueta, another change that is difficult to explain. Marcos Llorente had a clear chance in the final stretch, but Unai Simón prevented the goal with his foot. It was by no means the afternoon for Atlético that ended up confused and crestfallen. Athletic, which has already won nine, six of them at home, is two points behind Atlético and is in the Champions zone.
