In a tremendous showing, Spanish prospect Oihan Sancet, mesmerised fans at the San Mamés Stadium with the first La Liga hat-trick of the season.
With a long history of producing the stars of the future, Athletic Bilbao have struck gold once again. After joining the team’s youth set-up in 2015, Sancet quickly developed into a player capable of competing at the highest echelons of the sport.
The prospect made his debut for the first team in 2019. And despite dealing with a horrific ACL injury, he’s showcased heart in abundance to triumph over adversity.
Possessing an astonishing eye for goal and the footballing IQ of a player far beyond his years, the youngster is quickly proving himself as one the hottest commodities in world football.
On January 3, 2022, Sancet stunned Osasuna with an incredible performance. After his side found themselves a goal down, the Pamplona native burst into life, scoring a hattrick to secure his team the victory.
This marked the first time a player had managed this feet since Aritz Aduriz in 2016. Furthermore, he became the youngest man to do this for the club since Julen Guerrero all the way back in 1994.
However, the 22-year-old has proven that he’s not just a flash in the pan, as on Friday night, he did it all over again.
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Oihan Sancet scores the first La Liga hattrick of the 2022/23 season
With the standard of the Spanish league at an all-time high, the challenge of bagging three goals in a game makes for an almighty proposition. But during a match against Cadiz CF, Sancet made it look easy.
Having grown up idolizing Ronaldinho, the up-and-comer embodies the term ‘versatility’. To put it simply, the Spaniard can do it all. In a career which has seen him play through the middle, from defensive midfield to centre forward, Sancet has continuously impressed fans and pundits alike. And on February 3, his opposition couldn’t deal with him.
After just ten minutes, the towering athlete burst into life, smashing the ball past a helpless Jeremias Ledesma. But it didn’t take long for Cadiz to bounce back, with Gonzalo Escalante finding the equaliser. However, when the moment required, Sancet, rose to the occasion.
Positioning himself perfectly in the box, he pounced onto a pass and put it away with laser-like precision. Shortly after, Yeray Alvarez increased Athletic’s lead before the Man of the Match produced yet another moment of magic.
Picking up the ball thirty yards from goal, Sancet exhibited his lightning pace before unleashing a glorious left-footed finish.
The 4-1 victory marked the latest chapter of the club’s fantastic season. Just two points away from Villarreal, ‘The Lions’ are on the cusp of securing a place in Europe. And if their star man can continue to ride his ever-growing wave of momentum, they might just pull it off.
Featured Image Credit: La Liga
