Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Atletico Madrid: Javi Martinez Ruins Quique Sanchez Flores' Atleti Debut

Athletic Bilbao ran out 1-0 winners in a highly entertaining fixture at the San Mames, with Atletico ruing their three shots which hit the woodwork.

Both sides named their strongest sides for this match, with Toquero and Fernando Llorente leading the line for Bilbao, while Quique Sanchez Flores restored Sergio Asenjo's place in goal.

The pressure on both sets of players was evident in the opening exchanges, with each side moving forward well, but failing to make anything of their advances. On twelve minutes, Atletico were inches away from taking the lead when Gorka Iraizoz dropped Diego Forlan's cross, but Maxi Rodriguez could only head onto the bar with the keeper stranded.

Atletico's defence has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, and on 18 minutes, they showed their vulnerability once more. Pablo Orbaiz floated a free-kick in from the right, and Javi Martinez rose high to head into the bottom right hand corner, leaving Asenjo with no chance. It was a great header, but questions had to be asked as to how he was allowed to reach the ball in the first place.

Sensing a weakness, the hosts poured forward in search of a second, and only a point blank save from Asenjo stopped Markel Susaeta from doubling the advantage almost instantly. The visitors were all over the shop, and it seemed only a matter of time before they full further behind. Susaeta and Asenjo seemed to be involved in a personal duel, with the keeper denying the midfielder once again after he had left the defence for dead to be clean through on goal.

With ten minutes left in the first period, Susaeta almost turned provider, setting Toquero free, only for Asenjo to deny the striker at his feet, amid calls for a penalty from the home faithful. As the half drew to a close, Bilbao's only regret would have been that they had not increased their lead, and they suffered a setback on the stroke of half-time, with Igor Gabilondo replacing the injured Toquero. Still they pressed, and De Marcos should have done better than shoot straight at Asenjo after the keeper was caught out of position.

Just when it seemed as though both sides were content to take this scoreline into the break, Atletico almost equalized with seconds remaining. Forlan played the ball across the box, and only a desperate challenge from Fernando Amorebieta stopped Sergio Aguero slotting home. That was the last action of an exciting first half, with both sides having it all to play for in the second.

It only took 50 seconds for the first chance of the second half to occur, when Maxi shot just wide from outside the box, after being teed up by Forlan. The pair were combining well, and Maxi's next effort came even closer, smashing into the side netting. The visitors had taken control of the match, and were left wondering how Aguero failed to connect after being set up in the six yard box by some scintillating play from Simao on the left.

On the hour mark, Flores withdrew Maxi , replacing him with Jose Jurado. The immediate action was at the other end though, as another free-kick caused trouble, with Asenjo saving well from Llorente. It was end to end stuff, as Simao cut inside down the other end, but shot straight at Gorka Iraizoz. Joaquin Caparros then made his first switch, replacing Pablo Orbaiz with Inigo Perez. Soon, he was forced into another change, as Susaeta picked up a slight knock, and was replaced by David Lopez.

With fifteen minutes left, Atletico's season thus far was summed up in about thirty seconds. First, Forlan's strike from distance smacked against the far post, and then, from the resulting play, Aguero's rasping drive hit the crossbar. It just would not go in for Atleti, as more scintillating link-up play between Aguero and Forlan saw the Uruguayan's latest effort well saved by Iraizoz.

With ten minutes left, Flores threw his dice for the final time, replacing Simao with Jose Antonio Reyes. However, Atleti had finally run out of steam, and the game ended with Javi Martinez's goal proving the difference, as Los Colchoneros' thoughts turned to a week which sees them take on Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Arjun Miglani, Goal.com