Nico Williams leads Bilbao to win over Atletico in La Liga. Benítez's Celta finally wins at home

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Nico Williams struck a superb goal to help Athletic Bilbao beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 and close on the top four in the Spanish league on Saturday.

The Spain winger added to Gorka Guruzeta’s 51st-minute opener at San Mames Stadium.

Williams appeared to be well marked by defenders Mario Hermoso and Axel Witsel when he executed a quick cut back and lashed the ball in from a tight angle in the 64th.

Fifth-placed Bilbao moved to within two points of Atletico and Barcelona, who were level on points in third and fourth place, respectively. Barcelona visited Valencia later Saturday, while Atletico has a game in hand.

Bilbao bossed Atletico throughout.

Nico and brother Iñaki Williams hit the post in the first half while Oihan Sancet squandered a penalty shot that he sent over the crossbar. Nico Williams earned the spot kick when he was tripped by Caglar Soyuncu in the Turkey defender’s first start for Atletico.

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak showed some cat-like reflexes to get low to keep out an effort by Sancet. But he could do nothing to stop Guruzeta from close range when he was set up by Ander Herrera's lobbed pass.

“This is our fortress,” Nico Williams said about San Mames, where Bilbao has only one loss in nine games. “Just go forward game by game and hope we can reach European competitions (next season).”

Jon Rahm, whose

signing for the Saudi-funded LIV tour

stunned the golf world, took an honorary kickoff wearing a red-and-white scarf for the home side. Rahm’s birthplace is near Bilbao in the northern Basque Country region.

NEW LOW

Diego Alonso’s Sevilla hit a new low after falling to Getafe 3-0 at home, remaining winless in the league since the former Uruguay coach took over in October.

Under Alonso, Sevilla has yet to win in eight league games and lost all four of its Champions League matches, finishing bottom of its group. Its only two wins since Alonso replaced José Mendilibar, who led Sevilla to the Europa League title last season, have come against lower-division rivals in the Copa del Rey.

Sevilla is in 16th place but level on points with Celta Vigo and Cadiz, which is in the drop zone in 18th.

Getafe striker Borja Mayoral converted a penalty for his 10th goal of the season, second most to Jude Bellingham’s 12 for Real Madrid. Jaime Mata made it 2-0 and Mason Greenwood converted a penalty for a late third goal. Both penalties were committed by Juanlu Sánchez for handballs.

FIRST HOME WIN

Rafa Benítez earned some relief after his Celta won its first home game by edging Granada 1-0 to exit the relegation zone.

Jorgen Strand Larsen used the back of his heel to score in the first half.

The match was the first for Celta since Marián Mouriño became the first woman to preside over the club, and the only woman to lead a top-flight club in Spain.

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