Les Leones will feel like they have a great shot to advance to the next round as they come home to La Catedral, but Lokomotiv Moscow have fired themselves into the tie with a great second half performance at home. Athletic Bilbao took a 1-0 lead early in Moscow, but the home side fought back and found two goals for a big 2-1 victory.
Lokomotiv Moscow Vs. Athletic Bilbao, 2012 UEFA Europa League: Loko Score Comeback Win
While a one-goal loss and an away goal for Athletic sets up what is more or less a toss-up at San Mames, Athletic will be unhappy that they weren’t able to hold on for a better result and give themselves a massive advantage for the second let.
Iker Muniain scored the opener, provided with a fantastic assist by Markel Susaeta. The talented winger beat three men with an incredible dribbling move in the 34th minute before cutting back to Athletic’s young starlet, who was able to hit a well-placed finish from 10 yards out.
In the 60th minute, Felipe Caicedo got his team back into the match by drawing a penalty from Jon Aurtenetxe. Caidedo was looking for contact all the way and went down easily, but there was no question that Aurtenetxe made contact with his ankles and committed a foul. Dennis Glushakov stepped up and converted the penalty to tie the match.
Caidedo would find the winner ten minutes later. Renat Yanbaev provided the assist with a great cross, which was chested down by Caidedo, then finished low past Gorka Iraizoz.
For more on Los Leones, check out The Offside Athletic Bilbao.
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