UCL: Athletic Club Comes from Behind to Beat Qarabag in Champions League
Athletic Club overcomes a first-half deficit to beat Qarabag, thanks to goals from Gorka Guruzeta and Robert Navarro.
Athletic ultimately deservedly leveled the score at halftime, thanks to Gorka Guruzeta's composed finish...
Athletic Club earned their first points in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign with a 3-1 win over Qarabag FK at San Mames Stadium. The hosts trailed after Leandro Andrade's early goal but staged a comeback with Gorka Guruzeta netting two goals and Robert Navarro adding a third.
The two teams had vastly different forms heading into this match. Athletic Club had struggled, winning only one of their last eight games across all competitions. In contrast, QarabaÄŸ had a strong start to the season, winning their first two UCL matches and topping the Azerbaijani league. Their unbeaten run extended to five games in European league phase matches before today's loss.
Qarabag made a lightning-fast start, scoring inside the opening minute. A lapse in communication between Athletic's Aymeric Laporte and Aitor Paredes allowed Leandro Andrade to capitalize, burying the ball past Unai Simón from a tight angle.
Despite conceding early, Athletic quickly took control of the game, putting QarabaÄŸ under sustained pressure. In contrast, QarabaÄŸ struggled to create many clear opportunities beyond their initial breakthrough, particularly in the first 45 minutes.
Athletic Club get their first win of 2025/26 🔴⚪#UCL pic.twitter.com/g55oseBaVR
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 22, 2025
Athletic Club had their fair share of opportunities as well. Oihan Sancet had a promising chance but fired over the bar from a threatening position. Mateusz Kochalski had to intervene to deny Gorka Guruzeta, showcasing the pressure Athletic was applying on Qarabags goal.
Nico Williams, making his UCL debut after missing the first two games due to injury, was close to scoring, with his shot deflecting off a defender and flying narrowly wide of the post. This moment highlighted his potential on the big stage.
Despite dominating possession, Athletic continued to struggle with their finishing, with Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta both wasting excellent headed chances. Iñaki Williams' injury substitution added to the hosts' frustration, as they couldn't capitalize on their scoring opportunities.
Athletic ultimately deservedly leveled the score at halftime, thanks to Gorka Guruzeta's composed finish. This goal reflected the balance of play, with the home side dominating possession and creating chances.
After the break, Athletic continued to dictate the tempo, with Guruzeta testing the goalkeeper with a low strike. Aitor Paredes then had a glaring opportunity, but inexplicably chested the ball over the crossbar from a favorable position, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
As the game opened up, both teams struggled to find composure in the final third. That was until substitute Robert Navarro took matters into his own hands, curling a stunning shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Both teams showed signs of fatigue in the final stages, but Athletic's lead held firm. Despite not looking 100% comfortable, they managed to see out the win, with Navarro's goal proving the decisive moment in the match.
QarabaÄŸ had a golden opportunity to level the score late in the game when Oleksiy Kashchuk attempted a chip. However, Yuri Berchiche made a crucial clearance off the line, denying QarabaÄŸ a potential equalizer.
The match ended with a thrilling moment, as Guruzeta's brilliant volley from outside the box sealed the win for Athletic Club. This victory marked their fourth win in 15 UCL proper games, rejuvenating their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
For QarabaÄŸ, the defeat marked their first away loss of the campaign, but their strong start means they're still in a good position to progress. Despite the setback, they remain optimistic about their chances in the competition.
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