Widely seen as a key danger man pre-match, Athletic winger Nico Williams made his first start for more than two months after recovering from injury.
However, Villarreal were the first side to go close, and Unai Simon had to be at his best to tip Pape Gueye’s 11th-minute shot from range over the crossbar.
The goalkeeper was eventually beaten after 26 minutes, though, when the visitors counter-attacked and Tani Oluwaseyi crossed for left back Sergi Cardona, who dinked the ball exquisitely over Simon for his first goal since August 2024.
Given that Villarreal went into this clash yet to lose after opening the scoring in LaLiga this season (W16, D3), the omens were already significant, but the hosts responded well, with Yuri Berchiche and Mikel Jauregizar both seeing shots from the edge of the box deflect narrowly off target.
However, the Lions were hit with a sucker punch in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, as Alfon Gonzalez picked the pocket of Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta and raced clear, before beating Simon to score his first goal since arriving on loan from Sevilla in January.
Athletic made a fast start to the second half as they searched for a route back into the game, but Simon was called upon again when he thwarted Tajon Buchanan from a tight angle.
The hosts applied plenty of pressure without seriously testing Luiz Junior, while the visitors were happy to play on the break, and Gonzalez should have doubled his tally just before the hour mark, only to lash wide from 15 yards out.
Ernesto Valverde’s men almost conceded an embarrassing third goal when Georges Mikautadze’s ambitious effort from halfway bounced just over the crossbar, but they grabbed a lifeline six minutes from time when top goalscorer Gorka Guruzeta crashed home his 14th of the season across all competitions from close range.
Nicolas Pepe then thought he had restored the two-goal lead, but his late strike was ruled out by VAR due to an offside in the build-up.
Athletic could not capitalise on that good fortune as they missed the chance to narrow the four-point gap to seventh place, while they are now without a LaLiga clean sheet in 15 games.
Things are looking far rosier at third-place Villarreal, who have now all-but guaranteed a UEFA Champions League place next season, despite this being only their second win in their past eight LaLiga away games (D2, L4).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Sergi Cardona (Villarreal)
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