Athletic Bilbao secured their first win of the Champions League group stage with a 1-0 victory at Shakhtar Donetsk this evening, ensuring that Porto will progress as Group H winners in the process.
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Shakhtar had already progressed to the knockout phase prior to kickoff after BATE lost 3-0 at home to Porto, but they will now go through as runners-up after the loss in Lviv.
Alex Teixeira should have put Shakhtar ahead after seven minutes, but the Brazilian striker fired straight at Gorka Iraizoz when one on one.
Mikel San Jose then threatened for the visitors, but the 25-year-old blazed his header over the bar from Benat's corner.
Mikel Rico fired a shot towards goal before San Jose went close once more with a glancing header as Bilbao seemed to be gaining a grip on proceedings.
However, Teixeira and Douglas Costa both went close for the hosts as half time approached, but neither side were able to break the deadlock.
Costa also went close moments after the break when he drew a stretching save from Iraizoz before Luiz Adriano sliced an effort well wide as the home side looked to carry more attacking threat in the second half.
San Jose's third attacking header of the match resulted in the decisive goal as it bounced into the back of the net to hand the Spanish outfit the lead in the 68th minute.
The goal seemed to spark the game into life, as Adriano flashed an effort wide before Iker Muniain panicked in front of goal when one on one.
Bilbao substitute Aritz Aduriz deflected a goalbound shot wide in injury time, but Mark Clattenburg missed the offence as the visitors held on to secure their first win to move them into third place.
Kristian Johnson
