Athletic Club vs Qarabağ

Athletic Club will look to restart their UEFA Champions League campaign when they welcome a confident Qarabağ FK to Bilbao on Matchday 3. The Basque side are yet to collect a point in the league phase after defeats to Arsenal (0–2) and Borussia Dortmund (1–4), while the visitors from Azerbaijan arrive full of belief following a perfect start — beating Benfica 3–2 away and Copenhagen 2–0 at home. This fixture marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. Athletic’s only previous experience against Azerbaijani opposition came in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League qualifiers, when they defeated Şamaxı 2–0 at home before drawing 0–0 away to progress comfortably. For Athletic Club, this is their first appearance in the Champions League proper since 2014/15 and only their second in the modern era. The club’s European Cup debut dates all the way back to 1956/57, when they reached the quarter-finals. Yet, their overall Champions League record remains modest — just three wins from 14 matches (D4 L7). Ernesto Valverde’s side have been strong domestically this season but have struggled to replicate that form in Europe, with four consecutive defeats in UEFA competitions, their worst-ever run. They will be looking to remedy just that when they appear with the 4—2—3—1 formation, having Gorka Guruzeta in attack.

Qarabağ, however, have a longer and more complicated history with Spanish teams—they are winless in five previous encounters (D2 L3), losing their last three while conceding eight goals in total. The only time they avoided defeat came during their 2017/18 Champions League campaign, when they famously held Atlético Madrid to 0–0 and 1–1 draws in the group stage. However, they are enjoying a golden period. This is their second participation in the Champions League proper, following that 2017/18 debut. They remain the only Azerbaijani club ever to reach this stage of the competition and are now making their 12th consecutive league phase appearance across all UEFA tournaments — a remarkable show of consistency. Historically, Qarabağ have found life difficult against Europe’s elite, but this season they have found a cutting edge, winning seven of their eight matches (including qualifying) and scoring 15 goals in their last five. Their victories over Benfica and Copenhagen mark their first-ever wins in the Champions League proper, underlining their growth. Qarabağ, who are in 6th place with 6 points, could take the shape of a 4—2—3—1 when they visit the San Mamés. Camilo Durán is expected to lead the lines.