JAKARTA - The chances of winning Sevilla faded after being humiliated 0-1 at home by Athletic Bilbao in Week 34 of La Liga on Tuesday. However, that wasn't the only news that caught attention.
In that match, Inaki Williams scored the winning goal for Bilbao. He did so in a sensational appearance for his 191st consecutive La Liga appearance.
Yes, this 26-year-old striker has never missed a league match for more than five years since April 17, 2016, when his team played against Malaga. It was the last time he was out with a thigh problem.
Since then, Williams has played in every La Liga game for his club in the last four seasons. He looks set to extend this streak to five seasons, with four games remaining in the 2020-2021 season.
The Spaniard finished off his 191st appearance with a beautiful 90th minute winner in the top corner of the net. This goal was a big blow to Sevilla's title chances.
He played quietly at the end of the game, opening himself up to put the ball past home keeper Yassine Bounou.
Williams made his first-team debut for Bilbao - where he has been part of the club since 2012 - in December 2014.
Since then, he has scored 65 goals in 292 games for the first team and was awarded a staggering nine-year contract in August 2019, with the release clause set at 135 million euros.
By comparison, Frank Lampard holds the record for most consecutive games in the Premier League with the 164 games he made with Chelsea between 2001-2005.
Wayne Bridge is second on the Premier League list with 113 games, followed by Darren Fletcher (112), Alan Shearer (108) and Jonathan Walters (104). Now, Williams has surpassed all the players' records.
Williams has played once for Spain, featuring for 30 minutes in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2016 - he also featured twice in 2018 for the Basque Country national team.
Meanwhile, Bilbao are currently ninth in La Liga with four games remaining. Two weeks ago, they lost the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona.
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