Athletic Club Women 3-2 Atlético de Madrid Women: Azkona Inspires Lezama Thriller

Athletic Club Women claimed a hugely entertaining 3-2 victory over Atlético de Madrid Women in the Spanish Primera División de la Liga de Fútbol Femenino, winning a five-goal contest at Lezama that swung one way, then the other, before the Lionesses finally locked the result down in the closing stages. Ane Azkona was the standout performer on the night, driving Athletic forward from the left flank and setting the tone for a performance built on intensity, quick transitions and fearless pressing.

The win is a significant one in the context of the Liga F season. Atlético de Madrid arrived as one of the sides expected to fight for European qualification, while Athletic Club continue to build around a young, homegrown core that has made Lezama one of the more uncomfortable away trips in the division. Three points here strengthens Athletic's case as a genuine top-half force and hands Atlético an early-season setback in the race for the upper reaches of the table.

Match Overview

From the first whistle, Athletic Club pressed high and refused to let Atlético settle into their possession game. The hosts' midfield worked as a compact block, squeezing the space in front of the back four and forcing the visitors into longer, less controlled passes. That approach paid off inside the opening exchanges, and Athletic's early dominance was reflected in a two-goal cushion that looked, briefly, as though it might turn into a rout.

Atlético, to their credit, responded like a team with European ambitions. The Rojiblancas found a foothold through their wide players, began to attack the space behind Athletic's advancing full-backs, and dragged themselves back into the contest with a goal before the interval. When the visitors scored again late on, it set up a nervous finale, but Athletic's defensive discipline in the final minutes — plus a crucial save from their goalkeeper — ensured the points stayed in Bilbao.

Key Moments

• Opening goal: Athletic struck first after sustained pressure, with Ane Azkona cutting in from the left and finishing low across the goalkeeper to send the home support into full voice.
• Doubling the lead: The second arrived soon after, Jone Amezaga arriving at the back post to convert a deep cross and make it 2-0 while Atlético were still reorganising.
• Atlético reply: Sheila Guijarro halved the deficit before half-time, reading a loose ball in the box and stabbing home to change the mood of the game.
• Restoring the cushion: Early in the second half, Nahikari García restored Athletic's two-goal advantage with a composed finish after a slick passing move through the middle.
• Late drama: Rasheedat Ajibade converted from the penalty spot to set up a tense closing period, but Athletic saw out the remaining minutes with maturity.

Tactical Story

The game was essentially a contest between Athletic's aggressive, front-foot pressing and Atlético's preference for patient build-up. Athletic's front three pressed in a coordinated arc, cutting off passes into the pivot and forcing Atlético's centre-backs to go long. That created repeated turnovers in the middle third, and Athletic's willingness to attack those turnovers immediately — rather than slow the game down — was the single biggest factor in their three-goal haul.

Atlético's response was smart. By pushing their full-backs higher and using Ajibade's pace in behind, they stretched Athletic's back line and created the spaces that produced both of their goals. The problem was the timing of their best spells: each time they gained momentum, they conceded at the other end. That pattern, more than any single moment, explains why a game of fine margins finished in Athletic's favour.

Standout Players

Ane Azkona (Athletic Club): The winger was the game's most dangerous attacker, combining direct running with intelligent movement inside. Her goal was the reward for a performance that constantly pulled Atlético's defensive shape apart.

Jone Amezaga (Athletic Club): Full of energy and increasingly influential in the final third, she timed her run perfectly for Athletic's second and worked tirelessly without the ball.

Sheila Guijarro (Atlético de Madrid): Atlético's best outlet. She held the ball up well, brought others into play and scored the goal that gave her side a route back into the match.

Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético de Madrid): A constant threat with her acceleration in one-against-one situations, and nerveless from the penalty spot in the closing stages.

What It Means for the Table

For Athletic Club, this is the kind of result that builds belief. B