Athletic claim first Champions League win with win over Qarabag | OneFootball

In need of points in the Champions League, Athletic welcomed Qarabag to Bilbao and came away with a 3-1 victory.

The visitors struck almost immediately. In the very first minute, Leandro Andrade capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Aitor Paredes and Aymeric Laporte, slotting home to give Qarabag an early lead. The Cape Verdean forward found himself unmarked in the box and made no mistake.

Athletic tried to respond quickly. Alejandro Rego teed up Sancet, but his effort went over the bar. Gorka Guruzeta then cut in from the right and fired at goal, only to see his shot saved by Kochalski. Nico Williams also had a chance from a high press, but his header went wide.

The Basques were wasteful in front of goal, with Sancet squandering another opportunity, before Rego set up Guruzeta behind the defence. This time, the forward made no mistake, firing low to equalise five minutes before half-time.

The second half belonged to Ernesto Valverde’s side. Paredes and Guruzeta came close early on, but the Qarabag goalkeeper kept them at bay. Athletic continued to press and finally broke through with 20 minutes remaining.

Robert Navarro, on for Nico Williams, needed just five minutes to make an impact. Cutting in from the left, he shaped up and unleashed a powerful shot into the corner.

Qarabag tried to respond, with Kashchuk lifting the ball over Unai Simón, only for Yuri Berchiche to clear it off the line. Guruzeta wrapped up the win with a stunning long-range strike to make it 3-1.

Athletic claimed their first three points in the Champions League, while Qarabag suffered their first defeat, leaving both sides on six points.

Elsewhere, Galatasaray beat Bodo Glimt 3-1. Victor Osimhen shone with a first-half brace, Yunus Akgün added a third shortly after the hour mark, and Andreas Helmersen scored a late consolation for the Norwegians.