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Played
February 23, 2012 1:00 PM EST
Estadio San Mamés — Bilbao
Referee:‬ P. Gil‎
Attendance:‬ 35000‎
 
62′ Muniain
 

Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Lokomotiv Moscow (Agg 2-2, Bilbao win on away goals): Muniain strikes to edge Basque side through in tense San Mames clash

The influential midfielder earned the Basque side passage to the round of 16 with his second-half strike from a corner kick.

By: Victor Ferreira

Iker Muniain's solitary second-half strike was enough for Athletic Bilbao to earn a 1-0 victory against Lokomotiv Moscow at the San Mames and earn passage to the round of 16 of the Europa League through away goals on Thursday evening.

Marcelo Bielsa's men entered the match needing a least a 1-0 victory to progress to the round of 16 after a 2-1 first-leg defeat in Moscow.  After a back and forth attacking match, Muniain won the match for his side when he scored from an Inigo Perez corner kick in the second half.

Despite needing a goal to progress, it was not the Spaniards but the Russian side which looked most likely to score early on.  Felipe Caicedo forced Gorka Iraizoz into his first save of the match only minutes after the opening whistle with a drive from the edge of the box. 

Lokomotiv started much better than its opposition but the home side was able to settle into the match. The fans at the San Mames and those watching around the world were in for a delight as both sides put on a show while attempting to implemment their fluid and quick one-touch attacking football. A goal seemed likely from either side and spectators would not want to turn their heads away for even a second in fear of missing it in this lightning-paced game.

However, neither goals, nor goal-mouth opportunities appeared in the first half. Even though the attacking prowess of both sides was most evident, both Athletic and Lokomotiv displayed their defensive stability in this match.  Every time an attacker would work his way into the box, there would always be a diving body or straying foot to block each and every shot.  As a result, the two sides cancelled each other out and Caicedo's opening shot was the only goal-mouth action fans witnessed in the first half.

After a dominant start to the second half, los leones finally appeared to have the advantage.  Fernando Amorebieta dampened his side's hopes when he was sent off after bringing down Roman Shiskin and earning his second yellow card.

Losing a man on the pitch did not faze Athletic, but instead inspired them. The Basque side finally broke the deadlock when Perez's corner was flicked on by Llorente to the far post where Muniain slotted past Guilherme to give his side the goal that they needed to progress to the next round.

The resulting minutes of the match were part of a tense affair as the Moscow side looked to pressure its opponents into conceding, while los leones nearly doubled their advantage on several counterattacks. In the end, the home side held on for the victory.

With the win, Athletic progress to the round of 16 and will face the winner of the tie between Manchester United and Ajax. Lokomotiv will be disappointed in allowing its first-leg advantage to crumble and have been eliminated from competition.

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Athletic Bilbao

1
Iraizoz
Goalkeeper
-
5
Amorebieta
Defender
54′ 60′
-
15
Andoni Iraola
Defender
-
8
Iturraspe
Midfielder
28′ 46′
-
14
Susaeta
Midfielder
46′
-
21
Ander
Midfielder
68′
-
24
Javi Martínez
Midfielder
89′
-
2
Toquero
Striker
-
10
-
19
Muniain
Striker
62′
-

Lokomotiv Moscow

-
1
-
5
Taras Burlak
Defender
-
49
Roman Shishkin
Defender
-
51
Maxim Belyaev
Defender
80′
-
-
Renat Yanbayev
Defender
-
4
Zapater
Midfielder
30′
-
7
Dmitriy Tarasov
Midfielder
61′
-
8
Denis Glushakov
Midfielder
-
21
Dmitriy Torbinskiy
Midfielder
66′
-
27
Magomed Ozdoev
Midfielder
66′
-
25

Substitutes

13
-
23
Borja Ekiza
Defender
68′
-
7
David López
Midfielder
-
11
Igor Gabilondo
Midfielder
-
17
Íñigo Pérez
Midfielder
46′
-
28
Ibai
Striker
-

Substitutes

-
35
Aleksandr Filtsov
Goalkeeper
-
22
Da Costa
Defender
80′
-
6
Jan Durica
Defender
-
-
Andrey Eschenko
Defender
-
-
-
11
-
13
Victor Obinna
Striker
66′ 90′

Coach/Manager

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-

Coach/Manager

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-
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
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