Live: Serrano and Hierro Substituted into Athletic Match (81′)
The match between Sporting and Athletic Bilbao ended with an exciting score of 2-3. This game took place at the historic San Mamés stadium during the final round of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Both teams fought hard, with several key events shaping the outcome.
Match Summary
The game kicked off with Athletic Bilbao seizing the lead just three minutes in. Sancet capitalized on an error by Sporting’s Hjulmand, scoring a well-placed shot. However, Diomande equalized for Sporting in the 12th minute, heading in a corner from Maxi Araújo.
- 3′: Athletic Bilbao – Sancet opens scoring
- 12′: Sporting – Diomande equalizes
- 28′: Athletic Bilbao – Guruzeta regains lead
- 62′: Sporting – Trincão scores to equalize
- 90+4′: Sporting – Alisson scores winning goal
Key Player Performances
Rui Borges, the Sporting coach, made strategic adjustments to the lineup, returning Diomande and introducing Daniel Bragança. On the other side, Ernesto Valverde opted for major changes, making five substitutions from the previous La Liga match against Sevilla.
Game Highlights
Throughout the first half, both teams created chances. After Diomande’s equalizer, Guruzeta put Athletic ahead with a strike in the 28th minute. The momentum shifted when Trincão equalized again for Sporting in the second half after a beautiful combination with Pedro Gonçalves.
As tensions rose, a significant moment occurred when Geny Catamo appeared to win a penalty. However, the referee overturned the decision after reviewing the play, instead awarding a corner. In the closing minutes, Alisson secured the win for Sporting, marking their first victory in Spain in UEFA competitions.
Statistics and Final Standings
The victory took Sporting directly to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, finishing the group stage with a total of 16 points, securing the 7th position in the final standings.
| Team | Points | Group Position |
|---|---|---|
| Sporting | 16 | 7th |
This thrilling encounter showcased the competitiveness of both teams, especially with Sporting achieving a significant milestone in their European journey.
