Athletic Bilbao claim narrow win over Rayo Vallecano

Athletic Club laboured to a narrow 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, meaning it is now 36 La Liga matches since the side from Bilbao lost a game in which they were favourites.

After their action-packed 3-2 opening weekend victory against Sevilla, the first half proved to be a drab rude awakening for the home fans, as Athletic Club produced a first half littered with mistakes and calamities.

The tone of a frustrating half was set in the opening two minutes, as a wayward pass allowed Vallecano forward Jorge De Frutos in on goal, and his tame effort somehow crept through the legs of Unai Simon but was cleared off the line.

De Frutos proved to be an industrious nuisance to the home side’s jittery defence but, in keeping with the match itself, struggled to convert his work rate into any genuine chances.

Ernesto Valverde’s men arose from their slumber shortly after the break, as a moment of rare quality produced the first real chance of the game. Even in a dull match, Nico Williams was typically effervescent, and with the outside of his foot, he drilled in a low cross to Inaki, but the older Williams brother fired wide from eight yards out.