Let’s be honest — when you see a 0-0 scoreline, your brain probably goes straight to “boring match,” right? Like, “Ah, great, two teams just jogging around and wasting everyone’s Sunday.”
But nah, this one wasn’t that. Athletic vs. Las Palmas at San Mamés? It had tension, it had grit, it had moments. It just… didn’t have goals. And honestly, that might’ve been the most frustrating thing for both sides. Especially for the locals in Bilbao who showed up expecting a little more fuego. 🔥
So let’s talk about what went down, what didn’t, and why this 0-0 actually matters.
🔁 The Summary (Spoiler: No One Scored, But It Wasn’t Dead Air)
From the very first whistle, Athletic came out swinging. You could feel they wanted this win at home. Iñaki Williams was on his usual turbo mode, Nico brought the flair, and Oihan Sancet looked sharp… until that final touch. Ugh, always that final ball. It just wasn’t clicking in the box.
Meanwhile, Las Palmas weren’t exactly passengers either. They came with a plan: absorb, frustrate, hit on the break. Classic underdog strategy — and hey, it worked. They kept their shape like a well-organized Lego set. Not a single brick out of place. 🧱
In fact, the best chance of the match? Probably went to Las Palmas. Munir El Haddadi — man, if that chip had just dipped an inch lower… whew. But Unai Simón was having none of it. That dude could save your soul if it came flying at him in top corner form. 🧤🧊
📈 What the Stats Said (and Didn’t Say)
Possession? Pretty even.
Shots? Plenty. Just not enough on target.
Corners? Athletic had more, but nothing came of them.
Expected Goals (xG)? Let’s not even go there. Low. Very low.
The real story wasn’t in the numbers, though. It was in the vibe. The “we’re-trying-so-hard-but-something’s-off” energy that Athletic gave off, and the “we-don’t-care-if-it’s-ugly-as-long-as-we-don’t-lose” vibes coming from Las Palmas.
You know the type of match where you keep checking the clock thinking, “Surely we’re not still at the 62nd minute”? Yeah. That.
🎯 Standouts and Sleepers
⭐ Man of the Match: Unai Simón (Athletic)
Not even up for debate. The guy kept Athletic in it — again. That one-handed save in the second half? Oof. That’s why he’s Spain’s number one. Dude could’ve been reading a book all match, then suddenly snap — full stretch, clean sheet, thank you very much.
👀 Most Frustrating: Oihan Sancet
Look, we love the guy. His movement, his instincts — they’re top notch. But man, the finishing boots were left at home today. It was just one of those days.
😤 Las Palmas MVP: Álvaro Valles (GK)
Didn’t have to do anything world-class, but did everything right. Clean sheet at San Mamés? That’s no small feat. Even got under Iñaki’s skin a bit. Mind games = elite. 🧠
🧠 Tactics Talk (If You’re Into That Sort of Thing)
Athletic’s 4-2-3-1 looked dynamic on paper. In reality? A little static. The midfield was solid, sure, but there wasn’t enough creativity to break down a compact Las Palmas.
Las Palmas’ low block was frustrating to watch, but effective. They basically parked a yellow bus in front of the goal and dared Athletic to find the key. Spoiler: they didn’t.
Set pieces? Bad. Like, high-school-level bad. We’re talking corners that went straight to the first defender, free kicks that hit the wall. Not ideal, folks.
🤷♂️ So… What Does This Draw Actually Mean?
For Athletic, it’s a missed opportunity. They’ve got their eyes on Europe — maybe not Champions League just yet, but Europa Conference League at least. These are the matches you have to win if you want to stay in the top-six conversation.
For Las Palmas, it’s a small win in disguise. A point away at San Mamés? That’s a good day in their world. Especially when you’re focused on survival and mid-table stability. Every point counts, and this one was earned.
💬 Final Whistle Thoughts:
Was it sexy football? Not even close.
Did it mean something? Absolutely.
Was it frustrating? You bet.
Will we remember it in three months? Probably not.
But for the fans who live and die by their teams every weekend, these are the battles that build seasons. Quietly. Invisibly. One point at a time.
Next Up?
Athletic face Girona next — that’ll be spicy. They can’t afford another sleepy attacking performance.
Las Palmas will host Rayo — and that could be a real six-pointer if both teams stay neck and neck in the table.
Tell Me You Watched It Without Telling Me You Watched It 🎤👇
Did you suffer through the 90?
Did you yell at your screen every time Sancet overhit a pass?
Did you feel oddly satisfied by Las Palmas’ bus-parking masterclass?
Drop your thoughts below — even if it’s just “meh.” Because sometimes, “meh” is still part of the beautiful game. 💛❤️⚽
