Athletic Bilbao and Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has been awarded the LaLiga EA SPORTS Save of the Month prize for August. The league announced the honour on 10 September, recognising a key stop made by Simón during his team's trip to the Spotify Camp Nou on 27 August.
The save against Barcelona
The awarded moment came just past the 40-minute mark, with Barcelona leading 1-0. Lamine Yamal fired a powerful left-footed shot from inside the box that seemed destined to double the home side's advantage. Simón reacted swiftly, stretching to parry the ball away and prevent a second goal. That intervention kept his team in the match, though the game ultimately ended in a 2-0 defeat.
A first personal award
This monthly award marks a personal milestone for Simón at Athletic Bilbao, as it is the first time he has won this individual accolade. The Basque goalkeeper had already been a finalist for the Best Save of the Season award for the 2025/26 campaign. The recognition comes during a patchy run of form for the team, which has two wins, one draw and two losses in its last five outings.
Athletic Bilbao's most recent match was a 1-1 draw against Elche on 12 September, with Iñaki Williams scoring the equaliser. Simón, a key part of the defence, will aim to maintain his personal form to help the team climb the standings. The goalkeeper and his teammates' next challenge is listed on the fixtures calendar.
