Athletic Club clinched their first win of the UEFA Champions League group stage with a commanding 3–1 comeback victory over Qarabag FK at a packed San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.

It was a night that began with a scare for the home fans, as Leandro Andrade stunned the crowd by opening the scoring for the visitors from Azerbaijan just 49 seconds after kick-off — one of the fastest goals in the tournament this season.

But the Basque side quickly found their rhythm. Leading the charge was in-form striker Gorka Guruzeta, who brought the hosts level before the break with a composed finish. After the restart, it was Robert Navarro who lit up the stadium with a sensational strike from distance, putting Athletic in front for the first time.

As Qarabag pushed forward in search of an equaliser, it was Guruzeta again who delivered the decisive blow — sealing his brace in the 88th minute and confirming all three points for the Spanish side.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Athletic Bilbao - Qarabag 3:1 (1:1)
Goals: Andrade Le., 1 (0:1); Guruzeta, 40 (1:1); Navarro Ro., 70 (2:1); Guruzeta, 88 (3:1)

Athletic Bilbao: Simón U.; Gorosabel (Areso, 65); Paredes; Laporte; Yuri Berchiche; Sancet (Vesga, 81); Jauregizar; Rego A. (Ruiz I., 65); Inaki Williams (Alex Berenguer, 39); Nico Williams (Navarro Ro., 65); Guruzeta
Substitution: Alex Berenguer (from 39); Areso (from 65); Ruiz I. (from 65); Navarro Ro. (from 65); Vesga (from 81)
Bench: Padilla; Vivian; Boiro; Lekue I.; Etxebarria U.; Nico Serrano; Sannadi

Qarabag: Kochalski; Silva M-s (Bolt, 79); Mustafazada; Medina K.; Akhundzade (Bayramov T., 67); Andrade Le. (Addai E., 57); Kady B.; Bicalho (Janković M., 56); Jafarguliyev; Zoubir; Durán (Kashchuk, 67)
Substitution: Janković M. (from 56); Addai E. (from 57); Bayramov T. (from 67); Kashchuk (from 67); Bolt (from 79)
Bench: Magomedaliyev; Buntić; Mmaee S.; Huseynov Ab.; Huseynov B.; Kouakou