Athletic v Arsenal - as it happened
Join us for LIVE coverage of the first Champions League match of the 2025/26 season, which will see Athletic take on Arsenal at 18:45 CET at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
List of goalscorers
Match report in news
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90'FT: Arsenal overcame a determined Athletic side in Bilbao, sealing a well-earned victory in their Champions League league-phase debut thanks to Martinelli and Trossard, in a match marked by intensity and physical sacrifice.
Yellow card
a Arsenal
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90'Zubimendi gets a yellow card.
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90'Six minutes added!
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90'Double change for the Gunners: Calafiori and Madueke are making way for Hincapie and Norgaard.
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86'GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAL FOR ARSENAL! After a brilliant play down the left wing from Martinelli, he squared a pass to Trossard to double the Gunners' lead.
Yellow card
a Athletic
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85'Madueke gets a yellow card.
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80'Double change for Athletic: Vezga and Gomez are making way for Rego and Serrano.
Goaaaaaal!
de Arsenal en el 72'
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Statistics of Martinelli in Champions League111100
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72'GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAL FOR ARSENAL!! Now that's what you call a super-sub! Martinelli has just come on, and he's scored within seconds to put the Gunners ahead.
Substitution
at Arsenal
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71'Martinelli is being introduced for the Gunners, replacing Eze.
Substitution
at Athletic
Substitution
at Athletic
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68'Double change for Athletic: Sancet and Adama are making way for Yuri and Guruzeta.
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64'The Gunners make a substitution: Gyokeres heads off, and Trossard comes on.
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60'Athletic makes a substitution: Robert Navarro is making way for Unai Gomez.
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56'Raya made the save from Inaki Williams' shot.
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52'Unai Simon caught Madueke's cross into the box.
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49'Gyokeres is proving to be a real handful in the air, winning a lot of those aerial duels.
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46'Second half underway!!
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45'The whistle blows for the break, and it's goalless. It's still anyone's game.
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45'Three minutes added!
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43'Athletic had a great chance, but Berenguer's shot went wide of the target.
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40'Arsenal are moving the ball from side to side.
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37'It's a foul from Rice, and the crowd is whistling and calling for a second yellow card.
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33'Gyokeres is coming off the pitch with a bandage, but it looks like he'll be able to carry on.
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30'Gyokeres and Gabriel have had a nasty collision. The Arsenal striker is currently being treated, as he's bleeding from the head.
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27'Viktor Gyokeres had a header that went off target after a good cross from Timber.
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24'A good defensive play by Vivian that stops Gyokeres.
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20'Eze was so close to scoring, but Gorosabel was quick to clear the ball away.
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16'Poor shot from Jauregizar that Raya catches in two times.
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12'A dangerous cross from Jauregizar on the right side just misses a connection with Williams.
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8'Rice is booked for his tackle on Jauregizar.
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7'The Athletic attack is testing the Arsenal backline, but they remain solid.
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5'We see Athletic in their usual home kit, wearing their traditional red and white stripes, while the Gunners are in blue shirts and white shorts today.
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1'Kickoff! The game is officially underway.
Start of match
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PRVWThe players take the field!
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PRVWArsenal starting XI: David Raya (GK), Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes, Calafiori, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Eze, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres.
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PRVWAthletic starting XI: Unai Simon (GK); Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Adama Boiro; Inaki Williams, Mikel Vesga, Oihan Sancet, Mikel Jauregizar, Robert Navarro; Alex Berenguer.
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PRVWWe have the confirmed line-ups at the San Mames stadium!
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PRVWArsenal possible starting lineup: Raya (GK); Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
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PRVWAthletic possible starting lineup: Simon (GK); Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Vesga, Jauregizar; I. Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; Sannadi.
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PRVWLet's take a look at some possible line-ups for the clash!!
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PRVWOihan Sancet and Mikel Jauregizar are expected to occupy central positions in the creative hub for the Basque outfit.
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PRVWInaki Williams, now club captain, will lead the home side’s attack from the right wing.
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PRVWInigo Lekue has resumed training and could make a timely return on the defensive flank.
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PRVWBenat Prados and Unai Egiluz are sidelined with long-term knee injuries, while Yeray Alvarez is still suspended.
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PRVWAymeric Laporte has not been named in Valverde’s squad for the league phase.
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PRVWAthletic also have to contend with significant absences, including winger Nico Williams who has an adductor problem.
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PRVWMikel Arteta may consider rotating his resources in defence with Manchester City awaiting in the Premier League.
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PRVWWilliam Saliba and Christian Norgaard have both recovered and are available for selection.
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PRVWOdegaard joins Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus on the Gunners’ injury list.
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PRVWThe Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard misses out with another shoulder injury sustained at the weekend.
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PRVWOnly Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid collected more points than Ernesto Valverde’s men.
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PRVWAthletic earned their place thanks to an excellent La Liga campaign, finishing fourth with 70 points.
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PRVWThe Gunners arrive after reaching last season’s semi-finals, their third in Champions League history.
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PRVWArsenal and Athletic Bilbao meet tonight in European competition for the very first time.
Pre-match
16 September 2025, 18:45
Referee: Donatas Rumsas | VAR: Pol van Boekel
Stadium: San Mamés
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PRVWHello and welcome to the live coverage of Athletic Club versus Arsenal from San Mamés in the opening matchday of the Champions League 2025-26 league phase.