Looking to bounce back from successive league defeats, Athletic eased their way into the contest, looking the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock, albeit without testing Aaron Escandell.
That was until the 25th minute, when Nico Williams lit up the match with a brilliant solo goal, skipping past Oviedo's challenges to stride into the box and thrash home an effort off the underside of the crossbar.
Los Azules’ response was almost instant, with Ilyas Chaira stretching to poke a looping ball through Unai Simon’s legs, only for the tightest of offside calls to rule out the would-be equaliser and spare the goalkeeper’s blushes.
Grateful for that reprieve, Los Leones remained largely on top until the whistle, but had Simón to thank for a smart stop to deny Leander Dendoncker on the stroke of half-time.
A league-low seven goals scored this term underlined the uphill task that awaited Oviedo in the second half, but the visitors could at least find reassurance in the fact that 85% of Athletic’s goals against had arrived after the break.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, clear-cut chances were at a premium as the hour mark ticked by, with hosts soon forced into a change as their goalscorer called time on his afternoon, having recently recovered from injury.
Nonetheless, Ernesto Valverde’s side maintained control of the game to the full-time whistle, peppering the Oviedo goal with speculative efforts late on, and coming closest to a second when Alex Berenguer lashed off-target from a tight angle.
Despite having very little to do in the second period, Simón had to remain alert to sweep up a rare away attack, ultimately seeing out all three points for his team. Defeat leaves Oviedo where they started – bottom of the table and now without a win in five league games (D2, L3).
Thankfully for Carrion’s side, just one point separates them from safety in a rather congested bottom six. The picture is notably brighter for Athletic, who arrest a run of three league games without victory to lift themselves up to seventh, having claimed just a second away LaLiga win this season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
