Athletic Bilbao II saw off Laredo 3-0 in a Club Friendly on Monday evening. The visitors controlled proceedings from the outset, with Aitor Pecina claiming two of the goals. By then the pattern was clear — Bilbao II dominated territory while Laredo struggled to mount any serious threat.
Laredo squandered the first opportunity of the match when they missed a penalty in the tenth minute. Pecina wasted little time before putting Bilbao II ahead, firing home in the fifteenth. And here's the thing — that early break gave the visitors the momentum they needed to dictate the tempo.
Pecina added his second in the thirty-first minute, extending the advantage before the interval. The statistics told the story: Bilbao II registered 127 attacks compared to 59 for the hosts, while holding 68 per cent of possession. To be fair, Laredo had their chances, but they lacked the steel to convert them.
The third goal arrived in the fifty-third minute, closing out a comprehensive victory. Laredo had another penalty opportunity in the seventieth minute and missed again, leaving them with nothing to show for their efforts. By then the result was beyond doubt.
The numbers painted a clear picture of one-sided football. Bilbao II registered three corners to Laredo's one, while the hosts conceded 18 free kicks and picked up two yellow cards. The visitors' recent form had been impressive, including a 4-0 victory over West Ham United's under-21 side, and this performance suggested they were building something.
For Laredo, the defeat followed a run of heavy losses, including a 6-0 hammering by Eclano last season. The result leaves them searching for consistency ahead of whatever campaign lies ahead. Bilbao II, meanwhile, demonstrated the kind of control that could serve them well.