Athletic Club vs AZ Alkmaar: A Tale of Two Halves

When Athletic Club hosted AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League, it was a match that promised much but delivered little in the opening forty-five minutes. The Basque side controlled possession, but Alkmaar defended stoutly and limited their opponents to a handful of half-chances. In contrast, the Dutch side looked dangerous on the break and could have taken the lead on several occasions.

The second half was a different story. Athletic Club came out with renewed vigor and intensity and took the lead through Iñaki Williams in the 72nd minute. The Spanish international latched onto a long ball from Ander Herrera and coolly slotted it past AZ goalkeeper Hobie Verhulst.

Athletic Club continued to dominate after the goal and doubled their lead through Oihan Sancet in the 85th minute. The midfielder curled a beautiful shot into the top corner from the edge of the area. Alkmaar had a late chance to pull a goal back, but Myron Boadu's header was saved by Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón.

The victory was an important one for Athletic Club, who are now top of Group E. AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, dropped to third place but still have a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Here are three key takeaways from the match:

• Athletic Club's improvement in the second half: The Spanish side were a different team after the break. They played with more tempo and intensity and created several chances.
• AZ Alkmaar's defensive solidity: The Dutch side defended well for most of the match and limited Athletic Club to few clear-cut opportunities.
• The importance of Iñaki Williams: The Spanish international made the difference with a moment of individual brilliance. His goal gave Athletic Club the lead and set them on their way to victory.

Overall, it was a good night for Athletic Club. They showed that they have the quality to compete at the highest level and will be a threat to any team in the Europa League.