Partizan Belgrade 0-2 Athletic Club: Spaniards comfortable throughout in routine victory

Goals from Raul Garcia and Benat was enough to give Athletic Club a narrow 2-0 victory over Partizan Belgrade.

The visitors started brightly with chances from Markel Susaeta and Garcia before the striker slotted home on the half hour mark. They pretty much dominated the second period with Benat rounding off the win five minutes from time.

Blistering start

Bilbao got off to a bright start eight minutes in when Susaeta had a go at goal as he looked to curl into the bottom corner but Zivko Zivkovic managed to get down to smother the shot.

Garcia had an opportunity moments later when he tried a shot from 35 yards out but was well high and wide of the target.

It was then the turn of Etxeita who tried to avert his header towards goal but Zivkovic was there once again to save the effort.

Garcia’s opening effort

Belgrade couldn’t hold off the wave of pressure for much longer as Bilbao took the lead after half an hour. Garcia had caused problems early on and finally found the back of the net as be rose highest to De Marcos’ cross to head it home.

Belgrade didn’t have their first opportunity of the match until three minutes before the end when Andrjia Zivkovic tried a shot from outside the area but it was well wide of the target.

Athletic pressure

The visitors continued their dominance in the second period as they looked to double their lead. They came close juts before the hour mark when Benat attempted an effort from outside the area which looked to be heading for the top corner but once again Zivkovic was hand to keep the score to one.

Benat seals it

The game began to die out as the second half came to its end but there was enough time for Bilbao to grab a second five minutes from time.

It was a well work finish from the free kick as Benat hit a thunderous shot into the bottom corner to seal all three points.

The final opportunity of the game fell to the home side as they looked to get a consolation as Fabricio rose highest to head towards goal from Miroslav Vulicevic’s cross but it was straight down the throat of Iago Herrin.