Alberto Moleiro came from the bank to help Villarreal expand their winning run in Laliga, which postponed the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Estadio de la Ceramica.
The yellow submarine followed recent victories over Osasuna and Seville with a clinical version against Athletic, which secures their third consecutive victory.
Santiago Mourino came close to the testing of Unai Simon with a powerful attack from the range only three minutes, but his shot rose over the bar.
Gorka Guruzeta then worked twice in Villarreal -goalkeeper Luiz Junior when Athletic dominated the possession of the opening phase.
After a lukewarm first half, replacement Moleiro finally broke the impasse in the 77th minute with a sharper half -volley.
The ball pin-balled around the Athletic box after the distant post-cross of Sergi Cardona, and a poor cleaning made room for Moleiro to bury a driven shot in the nearby pole.
Alejandro Rego has saved almost a point for athletics and hit the bar with a stunning long -distance effort, but Villarreal held.
Villarreal keeps the victory in third place, behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, while Athletic remains eighth, level at 10 points with Elche.
What a way to suffer, fight and work the three points! Victoria important, Groguets! Vaaaamossss!#Villarrealathletic pic.twitter.com/ou4ysdqqwl
– Villarreal CF (@Villarrealcf) September 27, 2025
Debrief data: Villarreal Snap Athletic Cold Streak
Villarreal recorded their first LaLiga victory in Athletic since 13 May 2023, ending a four-game Winless Run against the Basque side.
The side of Marcelino has also held clean sheets this season in three of their seven league games – most of each side in LaLiga so far.
Despite the limited chances on Saturday, Villarreal was clinically clinical from an expected goals (XG) figure of 1.07, while Athletic managed a higher XG of 1.46, but was abandoned by a lack of calm for the goal.
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