Athletic Club moved a step closer to the European places with a tense, controversy-laced 2-1 victory over Elche at San Mamés. The headline is simple: Gorka Guruzeta scored twice, including a late penalty, and Athletic took the points. The story behind it is more complicated.

This was the kind of match that rarely feels “settled” until the final whistle. There were long spells of control, sharp bursts of pressure, and then two decisions from the spot that shaped everything. For Athletic, it was a win that strengthens belief and keeps their momentum alive. For Elche, it was another difficult night in a winless stretch that is starting to feel heavy.

First Half: Control Without a Finish

Athletic began with purpose, pushing the tempo early and trying to stretch Elche wide. Their full-backs looked eager to join the attack, and the home side’s movement in the final third suggested they expected to create chances in waves. Elche, however, arrived with a clear plan: defend compactly, deny central space, and break quickly when a gap appears.

The opening 45 minutes followed that script. Athletic had more of the ball and spent more time in dangerous areas, but Elche’s shape held up. The visitors kept bodies behind the ball, protected the box, and made sure the match stayed uncomfortable. Athletic’s best moments came from wide deliveries and second balls, yet the final touch often lacked precision.

From Elche’s point of view, that was the correct trade-off. If you’re away at San Mamés, you don’t win the match in minute 12. You survive it. Elche did. But survival only matters if you can also threaten. Their counters were sporadic, and they rarely built sustained attacks, which meant they were always one big Athletic push away from trouble.

The Breakthrough: Guruzeta Strikes First

The game shifted after the interval as Athletic increased their intensity. They pressed higher, recycled possession faster, and began to pin Elche deeper. Eventually, the pressure produced the breakthrough. A delivery from the left found its way to Guruzeta, who finished well to put Athletic in front in the second half.

It was a goal that reflected the flow of the match. Athletic had been the more proactive side, and their patience finally paid off. For a few minutes, it looked like the home team might go on to manage the game calmly and maybe even add a second. Then everything changed again.

Elche Respond: Penalty Brings Immediate Parity

Elche’s equaliser came quickly, and it came from the penalty spot. A foul inside the area gave the visitors a chance to reset the match with one kick. André da Silva stepped up and converted, bringing Elche level and injecting belief into a team that badly needed a moment of positivity.

For Athletic, the concession was a warning. When you dominate without killing a game off, you invite a scenario like this: one incident, one decision, and suddenly all that earlier control is worth less. For Elche, it was the kind of pragmatic lifeline that can flip momentum, even if the overall balance of play remains the same.

The equaliser also raised the stakes. The match became more open, more emotional, and more likely to hinge on the next big decision rather than the next “nice” passage of play.

The Decisive Moment: VAR, a Second Penalty, and a Late Winner

As the clock ran down, Athletic pushed for a winner with the urgency of a team that senses a season-defining run. Elche defended with increasing desperation, trying to hold onto a valuable point. But in the final minutes, the defining moment arrived: another penalty, this time for Athletic, after a VAR review.

Guruzeta took responsibility again. In those moments, technique matters, but so does nerve. He converted the spot-kick late in the match to seal a 2-1 win and send San Mamés into celebration.

Predictably, the second penalty became the focus of debate. That is what happens when VAR enters the story late. Supporters will argue about consistency. Players will argue about contact and intent. Coaches will argue about interpretation. But the scoreboard does not care about the arguments. It records only outcomes.

What the Result Means: Momentum for Athletic, Alarm Bells for Elche

For Athletic, this win matters beyond the three points. It keeps their strong form alive and moves them closer to the top six picture. Winning tight games is a key marker of a team that believes it belongs in the European conversation. It is also a sign of growth: not every victory will be comfortable, and teams with ambition must learn to win imperfectly.

For Elche, the frustration will be familiar. Their winless run continues, and each close defeat adds pressure to the next fixture. There were positive elements organisation, resilience, and the ability to respond after conceding. But they still left empty-handed, and that is the only statistic that truly changes a season.

In the end, Athletic found a way. Elche fought, but not enough to rewrite the narrative. On a night defined by penalties and fine margins, Guruzeta delivered the decisive edge and Athletic kept their European push on track.