Rain hung in the air over Santa Cruz, not quite heavy enough to halt the game but persistent enough to alter the way the pitch felt underfoot. The Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López sparkled under the floodlights, with every pass skidding a bit faster and every tackle carrying a touch more risk. Early January had a knack for sharpening moods on the island.
The holidays were behind them, the league standings were tightening, and the memory of being dismantled by Barcelona in Madrid still lingered uncomfortably close to the surface. Yet, there was also a quiet confidence starting to take root, built not just on belief but on practice and structure.
Laurence Gonzales stood near the technical area, his coat buttoned up to the collar, hands clasped behind his back. He had learned to find stillness on nights like this. Athletic Club was not a team that could be easily swayed by noise or momentum.
They thrived in chaos, in broken plays and second balls, turning matches into tests of endurance. Laurence didn't crave chaos; he sought clarity.
Tenerife lined up in a formation that had become second nature to them. The back three stayed compact, with De Vrij in the center, Koulibaly slightly to the right, and Luna on the left, each ready to step forward when necessary. Cancelo and Grimaldo operated as wingbacks instead of fullbacks, trusted to pick their moments rather than charge in recklessly. Casemiro and Kikoto anchored the midfield, one providing cover while the other circulated the ball.
In front of them, Griezmann floated alongside Quaresma on the right. Bony watched from the bench, rested intentionally. Neymar, back from injury but not quite ready for a full ninety minutes, started on the left with instructions that balanced restraint with creativity.
The match kicked off with Athletic coming out strong, just as everyone anticipated. Muniain quickly moved inside, trying to draw Cancelo out of position, while Llorente made sure to keep both center-backs occupied whenever he could.
The visitors pressed high in bursts, which forced Tenerife to make early passes into some tricky spots. For the first ten minutes, the action mostly unfolded in Tenerife's half—not because they were dominating, but because they were persistent.
Then, Tenerife found their groove.
They started off with a patient approach instead of rushing things. Kikoto dropped back to receive the ball under pressure, allowing Casemiro to push up a bit and close off passing lanes during transitions. Grimaldo began to move forward with more confidence, knowing that Luna was alert and ready behind him.
The rain played into Tenerife's hands, speeding up their switches and causing Athletic's defense to hesitate just long enough.
The first goal came soon.
It was a play they had practiced and polished on the training ground. Casemiro sent the ball wide to Grimaldo, who exchanged a quick pass with Neymar before continuing his run.
Neymar held the ball just long enough to draw a defender in, then slipped it back to Grimaldo. The cross sailed toward the far post, inviting Quaresma to make a move. Instead, he held back, letting the ball drop into the space he had just vacated.
Griezmann arrived there unmarked and struck it on the first touch, his volley clean and decisive, sending the net rippling before the goalkeeper even had a chance to react.
Athletic sprang into action right away. They pushed their midfield up and sent early balls toward Llorente, putting the back three's coordination to the test. Aragoneses had to step up twice in quick succession—first to smother a low shot from Muniain and then to tip a looping header over the bar. Tenerife absorbed the pressure, reshaped their formation, and waited for the right moments to strike rather than forcing the issue.
Neymar had his moments without overextending himself. A quick turn here, a burst of speed there, always followed by a simple pass. He was still finding his rhythm, cautious of the kind of contact that had kept him sidelined for weeks. Laurence kept a close eye on him, assessing not just how effective he was, but also how disciplined he remained.
The second half played out more evenly. Athletic pressed with urgency, but Tenerife's spacing improved. De Vrij moved into midfield to intercept rather than just clear the ball, Koulibaly dominated in the air, and Luna played it safe, prioritizing positioning over aggression. The game slowed down at times, interrupted by fouls and restarts, with the rain continuing to slick the surface.
The second goal came late, just as Athletic was starting to stretch themselves in search of an equalizer.
Neymar carried the ball down the left flank, drawing in two defenders before getting clipped just outside the box. He stayed down for a moment, more to catch his breath than to complain, then got up and took the free-kick himself. The ball cleared the wall and dipped sharply, crashing against the crossbar with a hollow thud. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still.
Quaresma was the first to react, following in to tap the rebound home from close range.
Final score- 2:0
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League football came back in a flash, bringing with it a fresh wave of pressure. Just a few days later, Villarreal showed up, known more for their steady play than for dazzling performances. They were tight-knit, well-organized, and tough in the midfield. This match felt significant in a way that transcended just earning points; it was a real test to see if Tenerife could assert themselves against a team designed to withstand attacks.
This time, Neymar was on the field without any restrictions.
From the get-go, Tenerife exuded confidence. Griezmann intentionally drifted wide, drawing defenders with him and creating openings in the center. Casemiro's passes were sharper and more direct. Villarreal attempted to disrupt the rhythm by getting physical, stepping in early and leaning into tackles. The referee quickly established his boundaries, calling fouls that had been overlooked in previous matches.
Neymar picked up on this.
His first goal was a stroke of genius. A long diagonal ball from Casemiro found him near the sideline. He took it in stride, outpaced one defender with a burst of speed, faked out another with a clever move inside, and then curled the ball toward the far corner with his right foot. The shot arced beautifully, just out of the keeper's reach.
Villarreal reacted with physicality, but they were more cautious this time. Yellow cards came early, cooling their aggression. Tenerife seized control of the ball, moving it swiftly and forcing Villarreal to chase rather than confront.
Before halftime, the second goal came. A quick series of passes between Neymar, Grimaldo, and Joel tore apart Villarreal's formation. Neymar received the return pass just outside the box and struck it cleanly, the ball skidding low into the corner.
In the second half, Villarreal tried to push higher, but the spaces they left were dangerous. Koulibaly stepped in front of attacks with ease, De Vrij swept behind him, and Luna stayed disciplined. Tenerife waited for the counter.
It came twenty minutes from time. Casemiro intercepted a loose pass near the halfway line and, without hesitation, lifted the ball forward. Neymar broke into space, timed his run perfectly, rounded the keeper with a subtle touch, and finished calmly.
A hat-trick.
The final whistle brought a different reaction this time. Noise, satisfaction, belief. Laurence finally allowed himself a longer look at the pitch, at the shape of his team as they came together. The system was holding. The balance was improving.