{"id":21726,"date":"2025-09-16T17:01:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T17:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=21726"},"modified":"2025-09-16T17:01:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T17:01:54","slug":"athletic-bilbao-v-arsenal-champions-league-live-champions-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=21726","title":{"rendered":"Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal: Champions League \u2013 live | Champions League"},"content":{"rendered":"

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13 min:<\/strong> Alex Berenguer advances with the ball at his feet after Rice loses possession and wins a corner for Athletic. Nothing comes of the set-piece.<\/p>\n

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12 min:<\/strong> Athletic hurl a long throw into the Arsenal box, where Cristhian Mosquera heads clear.<\/p>\n

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11 min:<\/strong> Viktor Gyokeres runs on to a through ball from Rice and squares it but it\u2019s cleared. The flag goes up for offside but I think the Swede was being played on by Aitor Parades. It doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n

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6 min:<\/strong> Athletic force Arsenal into a couple of important blocks before Declan Rice gets booked for a late challenge on Mikel Jauregizar that gives the hosts a free-kick in an excellent position just outside the penalty area. The ball is played a couple of feet sideways to Adama Boiro, whose shot towards goal is not high enough and blocked by one of his teammates. I\u2019m going to go out on a limb and guess he was supposed to get out of the way.<\/p>\n

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4 min:<\/strong> A low Gabriel pass from deep is played straight to the feet of Aitor Paraedes and Athletic get their first chance to break forward. Riccardo Califiori is forced to step in and intercept as a low cross is played inside from the right towards Alex Berenguer.<\/p>\n

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2 min:<\/strong> There\u2019s some early whistling from the home crowd as Arsenal hog the ball deep in their own half, with David Raya and the defenders in front of him pinging it around at a pace that can be best described as leisurely.<\/p>\n

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Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal is go …<\/h2>\n

1 min:<\/strong> Viktor Gyokeres gets the ball rolling for Arsenal, their players wearing a change strip of blue shirts, white shorts and white socks. Their hosts are in red and white striped shirts, black shorts and black socks.<\/p>\n

<\/span>The Champions League is underway!<\/span> Photograph: Albert Gea\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a012.50 EDT<\/p>\n

Tonight\u2019s captains:<\/strong> In the absence of Martin Odegaard, Gabriel skippers the Arsenal side, while Inaki Williams wears the armband for Athletic Bilbao. \u201cUnique In The World\u201d reads the banner draped across the front of the top tier of one stand in the stadium known locally as The Cathedral, in what is presumably a nod to the club\u2019s \u201cBasques only\u201d recruitment policy. Of course, Arsenal have a few Basques of their own in Mikel Arteta, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a012.45 EDT<\/p>\n

Not long now:<\/strong> Both sets of players line up in the tunnel of Estadio de San Mames before being led out by Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas and his team of match officials. The long and winding road to Budapest starts here, with just the 144 Champions League football matches to be played before we even get to first of the knockout stages in February.<\/p>\n

Share<\/span>Declan Rice warms up ahead of kick-off. <\/span> Photograph: Albert Gea\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n

Champions League jeopardy (or the lack thereof):<\/strong> While there\u2019s no reason tonight\u2019s match shouldn\u2019t be a good one and I appreciate I\u2019m probably supposed to talk it up, the new and \u201cimproved\u201d Champions League format means there\u2019s not a great deal at stake at Estadio de San Mames tonight.<\/p>\n

When you consider that Paris Saint-Germain drew one and lost three of their first five games last season before going on to win the tournament, both sides here can easily afford to lose without it costing them a second thought. Is that really how things should be in the opening matches of Uefa\u2019s flagship club football tournament?<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a012.24 EDT<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta: \u201cWe were very unlucky\u201d<\/h2>\n

During his media briefing yesterday, Mikel Arteta reflected on Arsenal\u2019s run to the semi-finals last season and assessed his side\u2019s chances of actually winning the Champions League for the first time. \u201cWe were very unlucky in the semi-final [against PSG] not to get through,\u201d he said. \u201cYou take a lot of learnings from that. It\u2019s not only what we feel but the expectations that we have created that we can go all the way. We showed a very good level of consistency to reach that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know it\u2019s going to be a really long journey. You have to give yourself the best chance to win the game. We are good enough to compete with any opposition on the day. You have to have two things go your way \u2013 you have to have a have a full squad available and have to put the ball in the net when chances come your way.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span>Mikel Arteta talks to the assembled press in Bilbao. <\/span> Photograph: Luis Tejido\/EPAShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a012.27 EDT<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s goalkeeper David Raya was put up for interview in Bilbao and asked if Arsenal\u2019s players are talking about the possibility of winning this season\u2019s Champions League. \u201cWe are, we have belief,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want to win, we are Arsenal and we play to win, no doubt. That\u2019s what we play football for. It\u2019s a long journey in the Champions League and the Premier League.\u201d<\/p>\n

On his Athletic counterpart Unai Simon: \u201cWe played against each other in pre-season,\u201d he said. \u201cWe haven\u2019t talked too much about it but as a goalkeeper, there is no need to say what I think about him. He is an amazing goalkeeper. He is a guarantee here and in the national team.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span>David Raya speaks to the ladies and gentlemen of the Fourth Estate in Bilbao. <\/span> Photograph: Luis Tejido\/EPAShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a012.23 EDT<\/p>\n

Tonight\u2019s match officials<\/h2>\n

Share<\/span>Eberechi Eze will make his Champions League debut at San Mames tonight. <\/span> Photograph: John Sibley\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n

Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal line-ups<\/h2>\n

Arsenal:<\/strong> Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Madueke, Eze, Gyokeres.<\/p>\n

Subs:<\/strong> Arrizabalaga, Setford, Saliba, Hincapie, Martinelli, Norgaard, Trossard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.<\/p>\n

Athletic Bilbao: <\/strong>Unai Simon, Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Adama, Vesga, Jauregizar, Williams, O. Sancet, Navarro, Berenguer.<\/p>\n

Subs: <\/strong>M.Santos, Padilla, Guruzeta, Areso, Lekue, Galarreta, Yuri, Unai G, Maroan, Nico Serrano, Regi, Jon De Luis<\/p>\n

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The big interview: Unai Sim\u00f3n<\/h2>\n

Athletic Club\u2019s goalkeeper on hosting Arsenal in the Champions League, the magic of San Mam\u00e9s and how his mum is a regular on Athletic away trips, even if she can\u2019t bear the stress of watching any of her son\u2019s games. Our man at the Lezama training ground: Sid Lowe.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Unai Simon was in the Spain team that beat England in the final of Euro 2024. <\/span> Photograph: Bradley Collyer\/PAShare<\/p>\n

Arsenal:<\/strong> Mikel Arteta has said he wants to change Arsenal\u2019s European fortunes and finally lead them to a Champion League title, with their semi-final last season providing the proof they are good enough and the pain that could push them a step further. Sid Lowe reports from Bilbao \u2026<\/p>\n

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Arsenal team news<\/h2>\n

Declan Rice comes into midfield in place of Martin Odegaard in the only change to the line-up that started against Nottingham Forest. As expected, William Saliba starts on the bench, where young Max Dowman is also among the substitutes. Christian Nogaard is also in the Arsenal squad, having missed out on Saturday with a knock.<\/p>\n

Arsenal:<\/strong> Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Madueke, Eze, Gyokeres.<\/p>\n

Subs:<\/strong> Arrizabalaga, Setford, Saliba, Hincapie, Martinelli, Norgaard, Trossard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Declan Rice comes into Arsenal\u2019s midfield tonight, in place of the injured Martin Odegaard. <\/span> Photograph: Gareth Fuller\/PAShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a011.46 EDT<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s league phase opponents:<\/strong> Athletic Bilbao (a), Olympiakos (h), Atletico Madrid (h), Slavia Prague (a), Bayern Munich (h), Club Brugge (a), Inter (a), Kairat Almaty (h).<\/p>\n

Athletic Club\u2019s league phase opponents:<\/strong> Arsenal (h), Borussia Dortmund (a), FK Qarabag (h), Newcastle United (a), Slavia Prague (a), Paris Saint-Germain (h), Atalanta (a), Sporting (h).<\/p>\n

Points required:<\/strong> It\u2019s only a guide from a sample size that couldn\u2019t be smaller, but the three lowest ranked teams to qualify for last season\u2019s knockout phase playoffs scraped through with 11 points each from their eight league phase games. A fourth team, Dinamo Zagreb, also got 11 points but missed out on goal difference.<\/p>\n

Aston Villa were the lowest ranked of the top eight teams to avoid a playoff and advance straight to the Round of 16. They did so with 16 points.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Aston Villa\u2019s win over Celtic at Villa Park in January sent them through to the Round of 16 of last season\u2019s Champions League. Morgan Rogers bagged a hat-trick as Villa scored four goals in that particular match, a total of four more than they\u2019ve managed in the same number of Premier League so far this season. <\/span> Photograph: Paul Childs\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n

Early team news<\/h2>\n

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White and Kai Havertz remain sidelined for Arsenal, while captain Martin Odegaard is also unavailable after the recurrence of his shoulder injury. William Saliba is in the squad after recovering from the ankle injury that kept him out of Saturday\u2019s match but with an an arguably far more important contest to come in the Premier League against Manchester City on Sunday, Arteta may not risk the Frenchman, whose replacement Cristhian Mosquera, proved a more than capable deputy against toothless Forest.<\/p>\n

Athletic will have to make do without their left-winger Nico Williams, a recent Arsenal and Barcelona target before he signed an eight-year contract extension with his boyhood club during the summer. Midfielder Benat Predo and central defender Unai Egiluz are also injured.<\/p>\n

The Spanish side\u2019s veteran centre-back, Yeray Alvarez, also misses out as he continues a 10-month doping ban after testing positive for an illegal diuretic following his side\u2019s defeat in the Europa League semi-final last season. Yeray\u2019s suspension has been backdated to June and while Uefa accepted that he ingested the banned substance in error through the use of medication, he was found guilty of committing a \u201cnon-intentional anti-doping rule violation\u201d and must serve his time.<\/p>\n

<\/span>A testicular cancer survivor, Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez is serving a 10-match ban after testing positive for a banned diuretic Uefa accept he ingested unintentionally in a preventative medicine for alopecia.<\/span> Photograph: Francisco Seco\/APShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a011.53 EDT<\/p>\n

Champions League: Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal<\/h2>\n

Having gone out in the semi-finals to Paris Saint-Germain, the eventual winners, last season, Arsenal kick off their latest Champions League campaign with a visit to Athletic Bilbao. Managed by Ernesto Valverde, in his third spell in charge of the club he represented 170 times as a player, the Basque club have won their first three games of the La Liga season but suffered their first reverse on Saturday in defeat at home to Alaves. They are competing in the Champions League for the first time since 2014 and for only the third time since Uefa pivoted away the old-style knockout European Cup format in 1992. Ah, those were the days \u2026 yells old man at cloud.<\/p>\n

Like their hosts, Arsenal have three wins and one defeat behind them on the domestic front and could scarcely have hoped for a more straightforward victory than the one they enjoyed at home to Nottingham Forest three days ago. Apart from losing Martin Odegaard to a shoulder injury, things could scarcely have gone more swimmingly for Mikel Arteta\u2019s side as they built up to tonight\u2019s match at the San Mames Stadium. Kick-off in the first competitive match between these sides is at 5.45pm (BST) but we\u2019ll have team news and build-up in the meantime.<\/p>\n

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Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 13 min: Alex Berenguer advances with the ball at his feet after Rice loses possession and wins a corner for Athletic. Nothing comes of the set-piece. Share 12 min: Athletic hurl a long throw into the Arsenal box, where Cristhian Mosquera<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[3366,4781,13330,1732,3504,132],"class_list":{"0":"post-21726","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-arsenal","9":"tag-athletic","10":"tag-bilbao","11":"tag-champions","12":"tag-league","13":"tag-live"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21726"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21726\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}