San Mamés brings back the boos as Athletic slump deepens | OneFootball

On La Liga’s retro round, San Mamés rediscovered its boos as Athletic were outplayed by Villarreal, a dire first half leaving them two down and short of ideas. The interval was met with a sharp chorus of whistles.

The late push after Gorka Guruzeta scored and a last‑second fall by Aymeric Laporte in the box shifted fury towards referee José Luis Guzman, yet the frustration ran deeper after last season’s fourth place and Champions qualification. El Correo reports that the crowd’s patience has thinned over performances, play and points.

The match was billed as a marker for the run‑in, win and look to Europe, lose and watch those behind. Instead another abject opening half, echoing recent outings, allowed Villarreal to prosper.

The mood stayed heated after the break, with rare chants questioning effort. Supporters’ club members from outside Bilbao tried to lift spirits, but Villarreal always threatened on the counter. Boos greeted the withdrawals of Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, and were louder when captain Iñaki Williams went off.

With 15 minutes left many headed for the exits. The season’s lowest attendance, 42,981, had been recorded, and thousands had gone before Guruzeta’s strike stemmed the exodus. Around 25,000 remained at full time, protests centring on the referee as talk turned to a pragmatic 42‑point target.

Iñaki Williams accepted the bleak mood, saying the focus should be on what is below rather than Europe, that frustration is natural, and they must not fear but stay alert because things could worsen. He urged using criticism to respond with fight, calling it a lesson for younger players.

Athletic are six points above the drop with seven games left. Beating Osasuna next at San Mamés is seen as essential to calm both table and stands.

Source: El Correo