A recent history of late Athletic fightbacks

The last 15 minutes were decisive during Athletic Club’s comeback victory over Sevilla FC at San Mamés last Saturday. The lions beat the Andalusians 2-1 thanks to goals from Iker Muniain (76′) Oihan Sancet (86′).

Since 2001-02, Athletic have turned a LaLiga game around on seven occasions.

In 2001-02, came from behind to defeat RC Celta, a favourite rival in these situations given that three of Athletic’s seven comebacks in this period were against the Galicians. In this fixture, the lions won despite being two goals down with ten minutes to go. David Karanka kicked off the comeback with a header in the 83rd minute, Joseba Etxeberria got the equaliser in the 87th minute and Pablo Orbaiz sealed the victory two minutes later.

One year later, once again facing Celta, but this time in The Cathedral, Athletic fought back from 0-1 down when all seemed lost. Etxeberria was in right place at the right time to get the equaliser in the 80th minute and Ismael Urzaiz netted the winner in the 90th minute.

Two matchdays after, history repeated itself when Athletic took on Rayo Vallecano. Urzaiz equalised from Tiko’s cross in the 77th minute, and three minutes later, Aitor Larrzabal converted a penalty to give the lions an unlikely 2-1 win.

The 2014-15 season left Athletic fans with another story for the memory books. This time the lions overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat Elche CF at the Estadio Martínez Valero. It was a nailbiting end to the fixture, Ager Aketxe got Athletic’s first in the 79th minute, Mikel San José equalised with a great volley in the 86th minute and Iñaki Williams got the injury-time winner.

And with Celta as the opponent once again, the lions left it late to take the three points in 2016-17, the first time at the new San Mamés. Celta took the lead through Iago Aspas in the 54th minute, but Aritz Aduriz levelled the scores from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute and San José won the match with a volley in stoppage time.