Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting CP Live: Early goals at San Mamés as Sancet and Diomande trade punches in high-stakes UCL clash

A breathless opening in Bilbao sets the tone for Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting CP Live, with Oihan Sancet striking on 3’ before Ousmane Diomande thumped in a 12’ equaliser. Status: Live — Wednesday, January 28, 2026. With top-24 places and play-off seeding at stake on the final league-phase night, every tackle is carrying extra weight at San Mamés.

Score & Status — Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting CP Live

• Status: Live (first half, ~21’)

• Score: Athletic Club 1–1 Sporting CP

• Scorers: Sancet 3’; Diomande 12’

• Venue: San Mamés, Bilbao

Kickoff (Time Zones)

• USA (ET) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 3:00 PM

• USA (PT) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 12:00 PM

• Canada (Toronto) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 3:00 PM

• UK (London) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 8:00 PM

Last Verified (Time Zones)

• USA (ET) — 3:21 PM

• USA (PT) — 12:21 PM

• Canada (Toronto) — 3:21 PM

• UK (London) — 8:21 PM

Live Timeline (Key Moments)

• 1’: Kickoff at San Mamés; Athletic press high and funnel early ball to Guruzeta.

• 3’: GOAL Athletic — Sancet reacts fastest in the area and guides a right-footer into the bottom-right corner.

• 11’: Sporting win back-to-back corners after a spell of wide pressure down the left.

• 12’: GOAL Sporting — Diomande rises and powers a header into the top-left from Maxi Araújo’s corner.

• 18’: Sancet’s snapshot from the right of the box is blocked; the rebound is smothered.

• 19’: Catamo draws a foul to relieve pressure as Sporting’s block settles.

Standout Performers & Turning Points

• Oihan Sancet (Athletic): Drifting into pockets behind Hjulmand, he scored early and continues to find second-phase shots at the top of the box.

• Ousmane Diomande (Sporting): Dominant in both boxes; his equaliser shifted momentum and he’s already snuffed out a dangerous cut-back.

• Morten Hjulmand (Sporting): Screening intelligently, stepping out to stop the vertical pass into Sancet/Unai Gómez.

• Tactical beat: Athletic’s 4-2-3-1 morphs into a 2-3-5 in settled possession; Sporting’s 4-2-3-1 compresses centrally, inviting switches. That inside-to-out rhythm is defining Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting CP Live so far.

Lineups & Shape (confirmed)

• Athletic Club (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón; Andoni Gorosabel, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche, Adama Boiro; Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Alejandro Rego; Unai Gómez, Oihan Sancet, Robert Navarro; Gorka Guruzeta.

• Sporting CP (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Iván Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo; Morten Hjulmand, João Simões; Geny Catamo, Daniel Bragança, Francisco Trincão; Luis Suárez.

Match Stats (if available)

What It Means — Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting CP Live

On a night when the Champions League league-phase table is jam-packed, a draw keeps Sporting nudging the top-12 conversation, while three points could still push the Lions toward the coveted top-8 shortcut to the round of 16. Athletic, starting in the lower half of the 9–24 play-off band, badly need a result to avoid a tricky two-legged tie. Expect the hosts to keep attacking the right channel with Guruzeta’s wall plays and quick releases for Sancet, while Sporting will fancy more set-piece joy and Trincão’s carries if transitions open up. If another goal comes before halftime, the bracket math around both clubs could swing dramatically for Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting CP Live.