Athletic Bilbao avoided a shock result at home to FC Augsburg on Thursday evening, coming from a goal down to record victory in their opening Europa League fixture.
Despite Bilbao being quicker out of the blocks, it was a dream start for the European debutants as they took the lead after just 15 minutes through Halil Altintop, punishing some very sloppy defending by doing so.
The Germans really should have added to their lead before half time, taking control of the game and seeing several good chances to extend their advantage, but instead they were pegged back 10 minutes into the second half as Aritz Aduriz equalised with a splendid header.
The striker put his side in the lead for the first time not long after, another powerful effort the source, this time with his right boot from 10 yards out, before Markel Susaeta got a goal his individual display deserved to make it 3-1 in the final minute.
Bilbao go top of Group L by goal difference, with Augsburg sitting at the foot of the table.
Team news
Augsburg would be happy with the timing of their trip to Bilbao, as the Spanish team were missing several key players for the match. Iker Muniain and Ander Iturraspe are two of the club's most important players, but both are also long term absentees, whilst San Jose suffered a leg injury in his side's 3-1 victory over Getafe at the weekend and was absent for this fixture.
Gorka Elustondo replaced the former-Liverpool man in midfield in one of four changes, albeit the only forced one.
In between the sticks, Gorka Iraizoz made way for back up stopper Iago Herrerin, whilst the defence saw an alteration made too as Aymeric Laporte came in for Carlos Gurpegui in the centre of the back four. The fourth and final change was that which saw Ibai Gomez start on the left instead of Ager Aketxe.
As for Augsburg, they too had their injury concerns, nine in total, though only Raul Bobadilla's absence was a fresh problem, the striker and talisman replaced by Tim Matavz. Still, there were some surprising unforced changes in their team too as key man Tobias Werner dropped to the bench in favour of Ji Dong-Won.
The only other change to the team that were unlucky to lose 2-1 to Bayern Munich at the weekend saw Altintop come into the number 10 role, at the expense of summer signing Ja-Cheol Koo.
Fast start by Bilbao, but Augsburg take the lead
With an excited home crowd behind them, it was Bilbao who started the better against their inexperienced opponents, who were making their European debut tonight after being the Bundesliga's surprise package last time out.
They created the first real opening of the game too, Oscar de Marcos storming down the right wing and delivering a teasing cross that drew goalkeeper Marwin Hitz dangerously out of his goal, with Aduriz lurking at the back post but just unable to convert with seven minutes on the clock.
Beñat Etxebarria tried his luck shortly afterwards, the ball breaking kindly for him to fire just over the bar from 25 yards, whilst summer arrival Raul Garcia tamely found the target not long after from a similar position.
To be fair to Augsburg though, they were defending well as a unit to restrict Bilbao to little, despite a fast start. The Germans were looking to play on the counter, but had lacked conviction in their passing in the final third, with their opponents able to sweep up the danger rather comfortably as a result.
Yet, the pace was clear in their wide and forward players, and they showed glimpses in the opening exchanges that it could be a problem tonight.
Still, when they took the lead after 15 minutes, it was certainly against the run of play. Dominic Kohr had the initial attempt, producing a good save out of Herrerin after collecting the ball via a misplaced pass by the hosts in their defensive, whilst Altintop's header on the rebound was blocked by Xabier Etxeita. However, the visitors made it count with their third bite of the cherry, Altintop this time smashing home the loose ball inside the area with the Bilbao defence all at sea.
Debutants look to extend, not defend, their slender lead
Augsburg didn't sit back to defend their lead either, despite what one might have expected, and they were almost two up less than 10 minutes later. Having grown in confidence since scoring, they were playing some great football now and looking to control the game, a flowing move ending with Alexander Esswein's fierce shot being well blocked in the area by Laporte.
Matavz was on the end of an even better chance just before the half hour mark, Ji doing brilliantly to chase a lost cause down the left wing and deliver a good cross into the area under pressure from de Marcos, with the Slovenian striker diving to head goalwards, but only able to find the grateful arms of Herrerin as he did so.
The bombardment of the home goal continued as half time neared, with Ji denied exceptionally by the goalkeeper with just over 10 minutes to go, his back post header from Daniel Baier's corner saved marvellously by the left hand of Herrerin.
Seconds later, the 'keeper was forced into a more comfortable save as Markus Feulner pulled the trigger from distance, whilst Bilbao then countered and came close at the other end, Susaeta's perfectly weighted pass falling to Benat, who was put under pressure by Feulner, which forced the Spaniard to slice his effort wide.
The action continued to come thick and fast in the first half's final stages, mainly in Augsburg's attacking third still as Paul Verhaegh's off target strike was almost diverted into the back of the net by the lurking Matavz.
However, Raul Garcia really should have equalised with the last kick of the half after a poor error from Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker, but the former-Atletico Madrid man fluffed his lines from 10 yards, meaning the away side went in at the break with a narrow advantage.
Bilbao turn game on it's head
Like the first half, Bilbao started the second brighter, in need of a goal to level the scores once more. However, once again, Augsburg were strong at the back and looked capable on the counter, despite being on the back foot.
Yet, the hosts got a goal they perhaps deserved, even if Augsburg didn't deserve to trail. Still, it was a goal worthy of equalising, with Aduriz emphatically converting Benat's corner with one of the most powerful headers one will see all season.
Augsburg were not disheartened though, and could have regained their lead three minutes later, but Herrerin pulled off another good save to thwart Esswein from point blank range.
The German continued to be a nuisance on the right, cutting inside onto his left two minutes later and being denied by the 'keeper once more, with Laporte reacting quickest to the loose ball to clear.
Just as the visitors made a positive change to fuel their attacking fire further, introducing Werner for Matavz, Bilbao took the lead too, with Aduriz thumping in another with just over 20 minutes to play.
Susaeta's mazy run created the opportunity, and when the ball got away from him slightly once he'd burst into the box, his striker was on hand to collect it and fire it into the roof of the net from 10 yards to put the Spaniards in the lead for the first time.
Lacklustre late push by the visitors as the hosts round things off
Though it was supposed to be Augsburg pushing for the next goal as we passed the 70 minute mark, Bilbao continued to look lively going forward, with half time substitute Mikel Rico picking out Raul Garcia in the box, whose half volley on the turn wasn't too far wide of Hitz's right hand post.
Susaeta dragged an effort a yard or so wide moments later from distance, whilst Rico blazed one over the bar, with Augsburg really struggling to get out of their own half and put together a late push for a point.
They showed their counter-attacking abilities once more in the 76th minute, Koo, brought on for Altintop just short of the hour, picking out Esswein, who was again thwarted by the Bilbao 'keeper, who was having a splendid night in between the sticks, but this was a rare chance for them in the final stages.
Instead, Susaeta got a goal he deserved for his superb performance to round things off in the final minute of the 90, sealing the victory at 3-1 with a clinical finish after a lovely turn to lose his marker.
Augsburg could take plenty of positives from the match, having been the better side by some margin in the first period, but would be disappointed with the result given that they had enough chances to win the game.
Bilbao on the other hand, will need to rectify their first half flaws if they are to progress far in this competition, as more experienced and higher quality opponents will punish them for these errors. However, their response to going behind was superb, and their second half performance likewise.
The other match in this group tonight certainly opens things up, with Partizan Belgrade having defeated AZ Alkmaar 1-0. Bilbao sit top on goal difference though, whilst Augsburg fall to the bottom due to the same factor. The Germans host Partizan in the competition's next round of fixtures in two weeks time, whilst Bilbao make the journey to the Netherlands.