Athletic Bilbao extended their winless run in all competitions to nine games following a 2-1 defeat against Porto in the Champions League this evening.
Hector Herrera put the hosts ahead on the brink of half time with a well-taken strike, although Guillermo managed to level the game up shortly before the hour with a clinical finish of his own.
However, 15 minutes from time substitute Ricardo Quaresma's shot squirmed under the body of Gorka Iraizoz to ensure that Porto took all three points, which sees them remain top of Group H.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look back at an entertaining 90 minutes at the Estadio do Dragao.
Match statistics
PORTO
Shots: 13
On target: 4
Possession: 54%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 16
ATHLETIC BILBAO
Shots: 7
On target: 4
Possession: 46%
Corners: 1
Fouls: 8
Was the result fair?
Based on their first-half showing it looked a question of just how many Bilbao were going to concede in the second half, although having made a double substitution and changed shape at the interval, manager Ernesto Valverde got his side playing far better following the restart. In fact, a draw probably would have been a fairer reflection of how the game panned out, with the sides pretty matched overall in the end.
There is no denying that Porto were by far the superior team in the opening 45 minutes, although it should be remembered that Mikel San Jose came within the width of the post of putting the Basque outfit ahead. The Dragons were certainly not helped by some questionable refereeing decisions, either, with Jackson Martinez seeing what looked to be a clear penalty appeal turned down in the first half. All in all, though, Bilbao's spirited performance largely deserved a reward, but it just was not to be this evening.
Porto's performance
This victory ensures that not only do the Primeira Liga club remain top of Group H with three games to go, but they have also opened up a four-point lead over third-placed BATE Borisov. The reason that they are in such a comfortable position right now is down to the fact that they boast players who can score goals; tonight's win making it 10 European goals in three games.
Jackson Martinez - brought back in for this game having been left out last time out - provides the perfect focal point up top, while the link-up play between Cristian Tello, Juan Quintero and Yacine Brahimi causes real danger to opposition defenders. Porto may have seen their 11-game unbeaten run come to an end on the weekend, while at the same time falling off the pace in their domestic league, but their Champions League aspirations are very much alive right now.
Athletic Bilbao's performance
If not for an individual howler from keeper Iraizoz, Bilbao could very well have left Portugal with a point this evening, which would have kept their Group H hopes intact. As it is, however, they are now without a win in nine games in all competitions, hovering penuriously above the drop zone, while their return to European competition looks to be over before it's really begun following this loss.
The Basque outfit have struggled to create chances throughout this season, and that was the case again in a largely one-sided first half at the Estadio do Dragao. Valverde deserves great credit for changing things around at the break, however, somewhat controversially withdrawing Aritz Aduriz and changing the set-up of his side. It certainly worked, with youngster Guillermo tucking away an equaliser shortly before the hour, although in the end it just was not to be. The signs are there that Bilbao are slowly returning to the team which finished fourth in La Liga last season, but there is quite clearly still some way to go before they fully reach that stage.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Cristian Tello: Porto may have gone off the boil in the second half, but Tello's tireless running and intricate build-up play caused many openings this evening. Right from the opening minute he was causing a threat down the left flank, while also moving into more central positions, which Bilbao did not really deal with before he was withdrawn 10 minutes from time.
Biggest gaffe
The defining moment of the match came on the 75-minute mark when Quaresma's shot squirmed under the body of Iraizoz. Despite Athletic Club shipping so many goals so far this term, the Spaniard has largely been blameless, yet this error cost his team a share of the spoils. As well hit as the strike was from Quaresma, it really should have been pounced on.
Referee performance
Damir Skomina certainly did not enjoy his finest 90 minutes, waving away a few questionable penalty shouts in the first half alone. Two of them were borderline decisions that even with the benefit of hindsight were tough to call, but Aymeric Laporte's careless shove on Martinez inside the area looked a certain pen.
What next?
Porto: These two sides meet again in two weeks' time, but before then the Dragons return to domestic action where they face Arouca in the Primeira Liga.
Athletic Bilbao: Valverde and Co. will be desperate to put that nine-game winless run to bed in their next outing, with a trip to face Almeria on Saturday.
Daniel Lewis
