Porto edged out Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at the Estadio do Dragao this evening to remain top of Group H in the Champions League.
The first half looked to be heading towards a goalless draw until Hector Herrera popped up late on to tuck the ball home, giving the hosts a slender lead at the interval.
Guillermo's cool finish levelled up the contest shortly before the hour, although a clanger from Gorka Iraizoz allowed substitute Ricardo Quaresma to steal all three points for Porto 15 minutes from time.
You can see how the entertaining 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the Champions League group-stage meeting between Porto and Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio do Dragao. This fixture pits together Group H's top and bottom side, who are both looking for a win this evening for different reasons.
Bilbao have made a terrible start to their season both domestically and in Europe, while tonight's hosts saw their 11-game unbeaten run come to an end against title rivals Sporting Lisbon on the weekend.
It is not all bad for the Dragons, though, who come into this match in second place in the Primeira Liga table and top of this Champions League group. If results go Porto's way, then they could potentially be four points clear this evening with three games remaining. They certainly know how to put on a show in European competition, too, with their comprehensive 6-0 win over BATE Borisov in weekday 1 being followed up by a dramatic, late 2-2 draw at Shakhtar last time out.
That huge win against BATE sent out a real message to the rest of Group H, although it looked to be a one-off if the first 89 minutes or so of their last outing is anything to go by. Shakhtar held a 2-0 advantage over the Portuguese outfit heading into the final minute, until Jackson popped up with a late brace to regain Porto's top spot.
The omen's are not great for Porto, though, who have been eliminated from European competition three times in the last two seasons by Spanish opposition. Bilbao have the opportunity to dent their opponent's hopes of progression in the first of back-to-back meetings between the pair this evening.
Well it's fair to say that Bilbao have not got going so far this season, having won just two games in all competitions so far. I've watched the Spanish side on a number of occasions this term, both domestically and in Europe, and each time they have looked worse than the game before.
In the league they have scored five goals, conceding 12. All-in-all it is the Basque outfit's worst ever start to a season, which is in stark contrast to the last campaign in when Ernesto Valverde's charges recorded a solid fourth-place finish. Some suggest that it is already too late to finish in a Champions League spot once more, with the gap already too big, so if that's the case then Bilbao must simply turn around their fortunes in this competition, starting this evening.
Well kickoff is now less than 40 minutes away, so let's take a look at how these two sides line up this evening...
TEAM NEWS!
PORTO STARTING XI: Fabiano, Danilo, Maicon, Martins Indi, Sandro, Casemiro, Herrera, Quintero, Tello, Jackson, Brahimi
ATHLETIC BILBAO STARTING XI: Iraizoz, De Marcos, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga, San Jose, Iturraspe, Rico, Guilermo, Aduriz, Susaeta
Bilbao are still without Ager Aketxe who has been ruled out with a broken toe, while Iker Muniain is among the substitutes. Tonight's visitors may not have scored too many goals so far this season, although there's no denying that Aritz Aduriz is always a threat, and he will be supported by Markel Susaeta at the Estadio do Dragao.
Goncalo Paciencia misses out for the hosts with a knee injury, although key man Jackson Martinez is named in the starting lineup. There's also starts for Bruno Martins Indi at the back and Yacine Brahimi in the middle, fresh on the back of his hat-trick against BATE Borisov.
BENCH WATCH!
PORTO SUBSTITUTES: Andres, Marcano, Quaresma, Lopez, Torres, Neves, Aboubakar
ATHLETIC BILBAO SUBSTITUTES: Herrerin, Autrenetxe, Benat, Iraolo, Gurpegui, Muniain, Viguera
As mentioned, Muniain is among the Bilbao substitutes this evening, and although he has hardly been prolific thus far, his ability to cause danger out wide will be missed. Meanwhile, Ricardo Quaresma is on the Porto bench, alongside Adrian Lopez who can also make an impact if called upon.
A shot of the Estadio do Dragao taken earlier today...
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Well the only meetings between these two sides came 58 years ago, with Athletic coming out on top in the 1956/57 European Champion Clubs' Cup preliminary round. The visitors won 2-1 in Portugal, before a hat-trick from Jose Luis Artetxein the reverse tie led Athletic to another narrow win.
I mentioned Porto's recent record against Spanish sides in recent years a little earlier, well going back a little further, the Dragons have played 20 fixtures in all, winning nine, drawing three and losing eight. By no means a terrible return, although having been eliminated from Europe on their last three appearances by sides from La Liga, they will be keen on getting some revenge this evening.
Following on from that last point, Athletic Bilbao have actually never kept a clean sheet against Portuguese opposition, and if their form this season is anything to go by, that run will not be ending tonight!
It should be said, however, that there were just a few signs of improvement for Valverde's charges in their last league outing. Bilbao had two weeks to recover from their worst ever start to a campaign, and their draw against Celta Vigo - by no means a fantastic result on the face of it - was a decent starting point to turn their fortunes around.
More of that will be needed tonight, certainly far more than has been in show in their two Champions League fixtures to date. Their 2-1 defeat against BATE - the same side in which conceded six times against Porto a fortnight prior, don't forget - was a real shocker. The stalemate against Shakhtar a couple of weeks beforehand was ever worse.
PREDICTION: With that in mind I believe that this game will go to form. Porto may have seen their 11-match unbeaten run come to an end on the weekend, and depending on which way you bend the statistics - they have won just one of their last four - the Portuguese side are by no means flying right now. But Bilbao have shown little signs of encouragement in this competition so far, and therefore I believe that Julen Lopetegui's men will run out 2-0 winners.
The players are in the tunnel, with just five minutes to go until kickoff...
In terms of key players this evening, it is hard to look past Martinez for Porto. The Colombian is now in double figures for the season following his goal in the 3-1 defeat to title rivals Sporting Lisbon on the weekend, and he will be keen to add to the brace he bagged against Shakhtar last time out.
Bilbao will be looking to Aduriz to fire the goals, meanwhile, and a big performance is needed tonight not just from him, but from the entire Lions' squad. They are the only ones who can turn their season around, and you feel a win here is a must if they are to push on and achieve success.
KICKOFF! Porto get us underway at the Estadio do Dragao, looking to get forward instantly only for Martinez to stray into an offside position.
It takes less than two minutes for Cristian Tello to work some space down the left, although he was unable to pick out a teammate with his cross into the box being cut out. Positive start from the hosts who are looking for an early goal.
Looking at the early set up of Bilbao, Valverde looks to be fielding a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mikel Rico playing behind Aduriz, while Markel Susaeta and Guillermo also offer support. Positive approach, it must be said, and the visitors have managed to get a grip on the game in the last couple of minutes. Can they pose more of a threat this evening than they have in their previous two Champions League games?
CLOSE! Danilo is picked out on the right, and rather than running down the line he hangs a ball up in the direction of Martinez, with the striker just about failing to find the target with his head. Moments later Porto attacked down the right once more, and this time a ball into the box was met at the near post, although Martins Indi of all people guided it wide. It was a decent opening, but he was put under enough pressure.
Porto are hitting some brilliant cross-field balls at the moments as they look to switch play down the flanks. Forget their intricate one-touch play, this is the tactic adopted for tonight.
One of those switched passes found Brahimi on the left, and he managed to play in Sandro on the overlap, but the ball into the box was cleared away. Danilo attempted to pick out a teammate down the other flank, but his square-rule pass was also thwarted. All Porto at the moment.
Bilbao just being forced back at the moment, defending really deep. They are set out in an attacking manner, but they are just not being allowed to get bodies forward.
Susaeta fails to hold up the ball when in possession high up the pitch, allowing Porto to push forward once more. Not the first time he's lost the ball so far this evening.
SHOT! Juan Quintero shoots from range, although the ball ended right in the hands of Gorka Iraizoz. The hosts have been the better side thus far, although they have yet to create any real chances. Bilbao still haven't got a foothold on the contest, meanwhile.
A rare attack for Bilbao breaks down after Aduriz fails to play in one of his teammates. It needed an eye of the needle pass in fairness to the striker, but he couldn't quite find it. Aduriz was himself picked out shortly after, although having chased down the ball inside the box he was shoulder-barged off it by Martins Indi. He wanted a penalty, although it would have been a little harsh on the Netherlands international had it been given.
YELLOW CARD! Maicon is shown the first yellow of the game after deliberately halting the run of his opposite number. Susaeta swung in the resulting free kick, which Fabiano bravely came out to punch away.
SHOT! Tello drags a shot wide on the edge of the box, and to make matters worse the forward had Danilo on the outside who he could have played in. Wrong choice, poor shot. The game is slightly more balanced now, incidentally, although it is still the hosts who look more threatening.
Martinez is dropping deep to collect the ball now, and from his position around 10 yards outside the box, he looks to curl a cross into the area, although it dips right into the hands of Iraizoz.
OFF THE POST! For all of Porto's dominance it's Bilbao who have come closest to opening the scoring. San Jose tried his luck from range, and via a slight deflection the ball came back off the post and into play. Hugely unlucky with that effort! He really should have been closed down, though.
PENALTY APPEAL! Aduriz felt he should have been awarded a penalty having been barged off the ball a little while ago, well this was a stone-wall decision. Aymeric Laporte was left chasing back, and he seemingly bundled Jackson over in the box. It looked for all the world as though referee Damir Skomina was going to point to the spot, but he instead waved play on.
YELLOW CARD! San Jose is the second player to enter the referee's book.
CHANCE! Great defending from Oscar de Marcos to deny Martinez. Tello was allowed to stroll through the box and pick out his strike-partner, although the Colombian's prodded effort from close range was blocked by De Marcos as the chance went begging. Incidentally, Laporte showed great composure just before that incident to cut out some more danger.
The Basque outfit are having to put in a lot of defensive work at the moment. That is in part down to the dynamic movement up top, although so far they have managed to keep out the danger.
They may have come within a few inches of breaking the deadlock through that San Jose shot, yet Bilbao have not threatened all that much so far. Porto look to more likely to score as things stand.
CHANCE! A free kick into the box is not dealt with from a Porto perspective, and the ball eventually falls to Guillermo who gets his shot all wrong. He needed to hit the ball with real venom to get through a number of bodies, but he just couldn't sort out his feet in time.
SHOT! Tello and Danilo link up with the right-back once more finding himself in an advanced area, although he couldn't quite test Iraizoz, instead striking the side-netting with his angled drive from inside the box.
Aduriz hasn't had great support so far, but he does brilliantly to hold up the ball and eventually draw a foul. He is an invaluable player for Bilbao, it must be said. As it is the Lions fail to capitalise on the set piece once more.
Susaeta fails to find the target with his long-range shot, but it has been far more positive from Bilbao in the last few minutes. They still can't open up Porto, although at least now they are pressing forward on a regular basis.
GOAL! PORTO 1-0 ATHLETIC BILBAO (HERRERA)
Porto make the breakthrough right on the brink of half time through Hector Herrera - and what a great goal it was! Tello and Quintero linked up on the edge of the box, before the latter threaded the ball through to Herrera who did the rest. In a one-on-one position, the Mexican struck the ball first time into the far corner of the net to leave Iraizoz with little chance.
HALF TIME: PORTO 1-0 ATHLETIC BILBAO
What a time to make the breakthrough for Porto, with the last attack of the first half. It was an entertaining opening 45 minutes in fairness, although the game lacked any clear-cut openings.
Porto were the more dangerous side, looking a threat through Danilo, Tello and Martinez in particular, although it was Bilbao who came closest to opening the lead on 27 minutes when San Jose struck the post. That aside Bilbao haven't had a great deal to shout about in an attacking sense, and you have to say that the hosts are good value for their slender advantage at the interval.
UPDATE! Elsewhere in Group H, Shakhtar have opened up a six-goal lead over BATE. Yes that's right - SIX. At half time.
There's goals galore across Europe this evening, in fact, as Bayern Munich hold a 5-0 lead away at Roma, Chelsea are cruising 3-0 against Maribor, while Manchester City and CSKA Moscow played out a 2-2 draw earlier today.
Despite the lack of goals at the Estadio do Drago, it has still be an entertaining clash, which is very much still all to play for. Bilbao will have to show much more in an attacking sense in the second half, needing a point at the very least you feel. On the other hand Porto must stick with it, probing away much like they did in the first 45 minutes in search of a second.
SECOND HALF! We're back underway in Portugal, and there's news of a couple of changes to bring you. Aduriz has been withdrawn at the interval in place of Benat for the visitors, while Munaian is on for San Jose.
SHOT! Substitute Benat gets an early shot away as Athletic Club push forward from the off, missing the target by a few inches. His shot seemed to go right through without a touch from defender or keeper, although the referee awarded a corner. On the subject of those changes, I'm a little surprised that Aduriz was withdrawn, although Valverde clearly feels that a change of system is needed.
SAVES! Quintero gets a powerful shot in at goal, which Iraizoz has to palm away. Up the other end Guillermo looked to hit Porto on the break, and he came close to levelling up the game, forcing Fabiano to block his shot down low. Much better from Bilbao!
The visitors win a free kick around five yards outside the area, which is disappointingly blasted into the wall by Benat. The tempo has certainly been upped by the Lions, however, with the game being played very much in the Porto final third now.
Brahimi is a real handful when he charges forward, and having led a counter-attack he plays in Casemiro down the left, although the return ball was cut out. Brahimi was involved again in the next attack, being pushed over inside the box, but once more the referee waved play on. Damir Skomina has been very lenient so far.
GOAL! PORTO 1-1 ATHLETIC BILBAO (GUILLERMO)
Athletic Bilbao are on level terms, and it is the least that they deserve thanks to their positive start to this half. Guillermo was picked out inside the box, but he still had so much to do, yet having kept his composure he managed to work some space to get a shot away, simply passing the ball beyond Fabiano. Brilliant goal from the 21-year-old. Game on!
YELLOW CARDS! Incidentally, Danilo and Susaeta were both issued yellow cards following a minor fracas in the aftermath of that Guillermo goal.
Confirmation, if you needed it...
The turnaround in this match is extraordinary, and Valverde deserves great credit for turning things around at the break. It is all Bilbao now, with all their players wanting the ball.
CLOSE! Well having said that Tello has come within inches of regaining his side's advantage. He was given too much space to get a shot away - largely down to the fact that Bilbao are now pushing forward - but his effort did not have any real conviction, failing to test Iraizoz.
PORTO SUB: Somewhat surprisingly, Quintero has been replaced by Ruben Neves for the home side.
YELLOW CARD! Rico is the latest player to be issued a caution. The card count is quickly racking up now.
SHOT! Mikel Rico has done well to keep the ball ticking over in midfield, and having fed the ball to Rico in a wide area, the Spaniard plays in Muniain who drags his effort across goal. Incidentally, that effort now levels up the shot count - nine apiece overall, with both sides having had three attempts on target.
PORTO SUB: Quaresma is on in place of Caemiro as we enter the final 20 minutes of the game. A pair of fresh legs right now could prove the world of difference as Porto continue to defend, springing the odd break.
Martins Indi liked bringing the ball out from the back, but on a couple of occasions his cross-field passes have been easily cut out. Porto have just lost all their flow in this second half, which is largely down to Athletic getting a grip on proceedings.
BILBAO SUB! A final roll of the dice for Valverde as Gurpegi enters the fray in place of Rico. Can they find a winner in the final 15 minutes or so?
GOAL! PORTO 2-1 ATHLETIC BILBAO (QUARESMA)
A cruel blow for Bilbao, made even worse by Iraizoz's clanger between the sticks. It was substitute Ricardo Quaresma who will be credited with the goal, but his shot really should have been kept out. Iraizoz just seemed to dive too late, and despite being right behind the well-struck effort, it squirmed under his body.
Quaresma has certainly made an impact since coming on, but you have to feel for Athletic who have looked far better in this second half, yet ultimately now have nothing to show for their efforts. Martinez almost put the ball into the net for a third goal, almost connecting perfectly with his overhead kick, although it wouldn't have counted even if he had found the target with the linesman's flag already up.
Oliver Torres has been introduced with less than 10 minutes remaining, as Tello leaves the field. The departing player can be happy with his shift this evening.
CLOSE! Guillermo has done very well in this second half, playing in a more central position. He is tasked with holding up the ball, in turn winning a free kick for his side when bundled over on the edge of the box. The resulting set piece is swung in and Laporte meets it superbly, yet his downward header is somehow kept out by Fabiano. I say somehow because the keeper didn't know a lot about it, with the ball ending between his legs.
YELLOW CARD! Gurpegi is shown a yellow for his lunging challenge. Frustration getting the better of him, it appears, as we reach the last four minutes at the Estadio do Dragao.
Bilbao managing to find a bit more momentum now, which has been missing since that cruel second Porto goal. A draw wouldn't be disastrous, but they really need to find a goal out of somewhere now.
CHANCE! What a chance for Martinez to wrap up the game. Brahimi picked out his teammate in the centre of the box, but the striker skewed his effort wide. Could that miss prove costly?
Porto fail to make the most of another break, and Bilbao push forward with just 20 seconds left on the clock...
FULL TIME: PORTO 2-1 ATHLETIC BILBAO
It just wasn't to be for Bilbao, who have now gone nine games without a win in all competitions. They gave it their all in the second half, and perhaps deserved a draw. A cruel second Porto goal, which somehow sneaked under Iraizoz's grasp, cost them dearly in the end, however.
The win ensures that Porto remain at the top of Group H, while Bilbao are bottom with a four-point gap to make up on the top two places if they are to progress.
Well that's all from me for this evening, but stick around on Sports Mole as we bring you a full match analysis, plus player ratings and all the reaction from the Estadio do Dragao.
