Athletic Club - Sporting Clube Portugal

Athletic Club's Champions League campaign has come to an end with a 2-3 defeat at San against Sporting Clube de Portugal at San Mames.

An Allisson Santos strike in the 93rd minute, on the counter-attack as the Lions were pushing for a winner, put the final nail in the coffin.

The goal has put the visitors straight through to the last 16. A cruel outcome.

The Basques went down fighting. They left everything on the pitch. They had a commendable Champions League campaign, remaining in contention until the very end in a terrible group.

This season's problems lie in LaLiga, where the focus must turn to a high-voltage clash against Real Sociedad on Sunday, with the Copa del Rey also just around the corner. The Lions must bounce back.

The night couldn't have started better for Athletic, with Oihan Sancet managing to send an Alejandro Rego's pass into the net with a tight shot in the 2nd minute.

It's a shame that leads disappear too soon this year, and Ousmane Diomande scored with a header in the 11th minute.

The team didn't let that setback get to them and they kept pushing forward. Gorka Guruzeta then scored his fifth Champions League goal, stealing possesion high up the pitcjh and unleashing a right-footed shot that flew into the net at the second attempt, after his first shot rebounded off the post.

The goal was reminiscent of the one Iñaki Williams scored in the 2023/24 Copa against FC Barcelona.

An injury issue meant Sancet was taken off after half-time and Athletic paid the price.

Francisco Trincao, a prodigious talent, cut through the team like a hot knife through butter to beat Unai Simón in the 62nd minute.

Sporting attacked, had a goal from Luis Suárez disallowed for offside, and took the big prize in the final moment as Lions were giving it their all with their last drop of blood to win.

Given our injury list and the opposition we've faced, Athletic have done us proud in the tournament.