UEFA Champions League League Stage - 8
Athletic Club 2 - 3 FT Sporting CP
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
3' O. Sancet
O. Diomande (M. Araujo) 12'
↓ G. Inacio ↑Matheus Reis 26'
28' G. Guruzeta
Matheus Reis 29'
35' U. Gomez
M. Araujo 39'
44' G. Guruzeta
HT
J. Simoes 49'
50' ↓ O. Sancet ↑A. Berenguer
↓ D. Braganca ↑P. Goncalves 54'
↓ O. Diomande ↑E. Quaresma 54'
↓ J. Simoes ↑H. Morita 54'
P. Goncalves 55'
Trincao 62'
66' ↓ U. Gomez ↑S. Sanchez
66' ↓ I. Ruiz de Galarreta ↑M. Vesga
75' A. Paredes
81' ↓ R. Navarro ↑N. Serrano
81' ↓ G. Guruzeta ↑A. Hierro
82' M. Vesga
E. Quaresma 86'
↓ Trincao ↑Alisson Santos 87'
Alisson Santos 90'+4
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Athletic Club
Goalkeepers
Unai Simón 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Andoni Gorosabel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aitor Paredes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuri Berchiche 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Adama Boiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Alejandro Rego
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Unai Gómez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Oihan Sancet 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Robert Navarro
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Forwards
Gorka Guruzeta
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
Alex Padilla 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jon de Luis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jesús Areso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Íñigo Lekue
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mikel Vesga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Selton Sanchez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibon Sánchez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álex Berenguer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
40
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nico Serrano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Asier Hierro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Elijah Gift
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sporting CP
Goalkeepers
Rui Silva
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Iván Fresneda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ousmane Diomande
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Gonçalo Inácio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
26
Entry
Maximiliano Araújo 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
1
Assists
37%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Morten Hjulmand 
MAGNET
85
Activity
85
Activity
67
Passes
18
Duels
João Simões
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
54
Total Mins
54
Entry
Geny Catamo 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Daniel Bragança
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
54
Total Mins
54
Entry
Francisco Trincão
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Forwards
Luis Javier Suárez
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Francisco Silva
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
João Virgínia
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matheus Reis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eduardo Quaresma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Giorgos Vagiannidis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ricardo Mangas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hidemasa Morita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pedro Gonçalves
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Giorgi Kochorashvili
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alisson Santos 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.9
Rating
Flavio Goncalves
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rafael Nel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/07/2024 | Sporting CP | 3 - 0 | Athletic Club | Friendlies Clubs | Estádio José Alvalade |
27/07/2024
Athletic Club Win
Sporting CP Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Alisson Santos Stunner Caps San Mamés Thriller
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. A tactical masterclass in resilience saw Sporting CP weather the Basque storm to claim a vital continental victory in the dying embers of the match.
The Early Exchange of Blows
Estadio de San Mamés crackled with energy as Athletic Club launched an immediate assault on the Portuguese visitors. The Intensity was palpable from the first touch, as the hosts sought to exploit their home advantage. It took just three minutes for O. Sancet to ignite the crowd, finding the net with a clinical finish that left the Sporting backline reeling. However, the Balance of the match shifted rapidly as Sporting CP began to dictate the tempo through superior technical execution. In the 12th minute, M. Araujo provided the vision for O. Diomande to head home an equalizer. The Basque side refused to yield, and G. Guruzeta restored the lead before the half-hour mark, punishing a lapse in concentration. This opening phase set a breathless standard for what would become a modern Champions League classic.
Tactical Control and the Shift in Momentum
The second half saw a marked change in approach as Sporting CP dominated possession with 65%, effectively starving the hosts of the ball. The Stakes were high for the Portuguese side, who needed to find a way through a compact and aggressive Athletic block. The equalizer eventually arrived through the boots of Trincao in the 62nd minute, a moment that fundamentally altered the match's trajectory. While Athletic Club had successfully navigated high-pressure situations in the first half, the constant waves of attacks began to take a physical toll. The visitors moved the ball with an impressive 87% pass accuracy, forcing the hosts into a deep defensive shape. This territorial dominance meant that while the score remained level for much of the half, the momentum had swung decisively toward the away dugout, creating a sense of inevitability about the final act.
The Super-Sub Delivers the Final Blow
As the clock ticked toward ninety minutes, the prospect of a hard-fought draw seemed the most likely outcome for both managers. However, a masterstroke from the bench provided the definitive Upset. Alisson Santos was introduced in the 87th minute, and his impact was instantaneous and devastating. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, with the stadium bracing for the final whistle, Santos found the space to slot home the winner. It was a cruel blow for the Basque hosts but a testament to Sporting's persistence and squad depth. The victory propels Sporting CP further up the Champions League table, while Athletic Club is left to rue missed opportunities despite their clinical start. The final whistle confirmed a 3-2 away win, leaving the home supporters in stunned silence following one of the most dramatic conclusions to a European night at the new San Mamés.
Key Questions
What caused the 5-goal thriller?
A combination of Athletic's early clinical finishing and Sporting's relentless 65% possession created a high-scoring, end-to-end tactical battle.
How dramatic was the late winner by Ousmane Diomande?
While Diomande scored an early equalizer, the true drama came from Alisson Santos, who scored the 94th-minute winner as a super-sub.
How did Athletic Club complete the comeback from behind?
Athletic briefly regained the lead via Guruzeta after Diomande's first equalizer, though they ultimately surrendered the lead twice to lose 3-2.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Athletic’s Last Stand Against the Portuguese Giants
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 42/100. This is a rescue mission for Athletic Club, who must overcome the odds to keep their Champions League dream alive against a clinical Sporting side.
The Setup
The Stakes could not be clearer for Athletic Club as they enter the final round of the league stage sitting in 32nd place. With only five points from six matches, the Basque side is currently well below the top-24 playoff line. Their Form (DDLWL) has been erratic, but the hostile atmosphere of the Estadio de San Mamés remains their greatest asset. In contrast, Sporting CP arrive in 6th place, already assured of a knockout spot but desperate for a win to secure a direct route into the Round of 16. The Balance of this tie pits Athletic’s desperation against Sporting’s technical composure.
Key Battle
The creative burden for the hosts falls on Robert Navarro, who has been a rare bright spark in the home midfield with one goal and two assists recently. He must unlock a Sporting defence that has been well-shielded this season. At the other end, Luis Javier Suárez provides the primary threat for the visitors. With three goals in his last five matches, Suárez will test the concentration of Unai Simón, who has already registered 13 saves in the competition. It is a classic duel of clinical finishing versus a goalkeeper in world-class Form.
Our Prediction
Athletic Club are expected to fly out of the blocks, fueled by the necessity of three points. While Sporting CP have shown better overall Stars power this season, the home side’s 48.9% win probability suggests the bookmakers favour Basque grit in a high-pressure scenario. We anticipate a narrow 2-1 victory for Athletic, as they capitalize on a late surge to keep their European season breathing for one more week.