MADRID, 18 (EUROPA PRESS)
Athletic Club's Spanish winger Nico Williams was the star of the rojiblancos' league debut at San Mamés against Sevilla (3-2), participating in all three of his team's goals with one goal and two assists that allowed Ernesto Valverde's team to collect their first three points of the season.
Nico Williams has been one of the biggest names in the summer of 2025. For the second year running, the youngest Williams' name was linked to FC Barcelona, a soap opera that ended with Nico Williams signing a contract extension until 2035, the longest in European football currently. Thus, the Spanish international presented himself in the league opener against Sevilla as the leader of the red-and-white team.
And despite the high expectations surrounding the number 10, his performance against Sevilla left no one indifferent. Nico Williams assumed the role that his new contract entails in his league debut and led the Red and Whites to victory with an outstanding performance. The youngest of the Williams brothers recovered the freshness and speed that had been lacking at times last season and was the main offensive force for Valverde's team.
A performance that was crowned with a transcendent impact on the outcome of the match, as he played a part in all three of his team's goals. The first was his own work, converting a penalty he had himself awarded. For the second, he assisted Maroan Sannadi after a great individual effort. And for the third, he again provided the assist, this time to Robert Navarro, after another fine move down the right wing.
But beyond the goal and two assists that earned him the MVP award, the Spanish international was omnipresent in his team's attack. Nico Williams played 62 ball actions, completed 27 passes, created three chances, completed eight dribbles, and hit the post once. A sublime performance that the San Mamés crowd rewarded with a standing ovation that Nico Williams will long remember.
Now, Nico Williams' challenge must be to find consistency in his game, a key aspect for Athletic Club's aspirations, which return to the Champions League this season, to continue growing. To achieve this, it will be crucial that, as in the first match of the season, his goal and assist tallies significantly exceed the 11 goals and eight assists he achieved last season in all competitions.
