Athletic kept the momentum building with Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams firing them to a big win
Athletic had to dig deep to keep their fearsome home record alive – but a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano was described as a ‘good omen’ for their second leg clash with Rangers.
Barry Ferguson’s team travel to the Basque Country on Thursday looking for another famous night on the road after last week’s 0-0 draw at Ibrox.
It was always going to be tough against a team who, heading into their showdown with mid-table side Rayo, hadn’t lost at home in 12 league matches.
That record looked at serious risk when Pathe Ciss put the visitors in front in the first half. But veteran boss Ernesto Valverde had other ideas.
A raft of changes turned things around as first Oihan Sancet came off the bench to equalise from the penalty spot.
And then it was key man Nico Williams, thrown on beside brother Inaki as Valverde turned to the crucial players who had been rested, who put them in front.
That sparked wild scenes with Athletic keeping the momentum building nicely ahead of the Europa League quarter-final showdown.
Sancet then added a third with a stunner late on and commentator Glenn Taylor said: “They’ll see this as a good omen going into that European clash. They’ll need to get past Rangers to set up a tie with Manchester United or Olympique Lyonnais.”
But Rangers will be hoping to prevent them doing that, having bounced back from 2-0 down to draw with Aberdeen earlier in the day.
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