Athletic Bilbao was unable to regain its offensive spark, despite the return of its star Nico Williams to the starting lineup after a long absence.

His anticipated participation came in the team's match against Villarreal, which the team lost 1-2 in the 31st round of La Liga. However, it was not enough to make a difference, as the struggle in creating and converting chances continued.

Coach Ernesto Valverde finally tried to rely on his ideal attacking lineup that he had been planning since the beginning of the season, with the Williams brothers on the wings, Oihan Sancet in the playmaker role, alongside Gorka Guruzeta in attack. This combination, which looked promising on paper, has not appeared much this season due to recurring injuries.

For Nico Williams, the match marked a return to the San Mamés stadium and to the starting lineup after more than two months of absence, during which he underwent special treatment to recover from a chronic groin injury. He had previously participated for limited minutes against Getafe, but this appearance was more significant in terms of timing and the role expected of him.

Despite this return, the overall performance of the team remained lackluster offensively, reflecting the depth of the crisis Athletic Bilbao is experiencing in this area.

It seems that the team in twelfth place needs more than just the return of its injured stars to find effective solutions that restore its balance and competitiveness.