Trabzonspor 3 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Trabzonspor: Petkovic; Emrah, D'Haene, Erdin, Celadeddin; Gökdeniz, Huseyin, Thijs (Hasan 79'), Lee (Augustine 86'); Fatih, Yilmaz. 4-4-2.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Javi González, Luis Prieto, Del Horno; Tiko (Orbaiz 65'), Gurpegui; Iraola (Urzaiz 52'), Etxeberría, Yeste; Ezquerro (Arriaga 72'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 25. Javi González (own goal). Turned Gökdeniz cross into own net.
2-0. 28. Yilmaz. On the follow up after Aranzubia saved his Fatih's shot.
3-0. 69. Gokdeniz. Ran on to long pass to round Aranzubia and score.
3-1. 73. Gurpegui. First time volley after Arriaga touched on ball into area.
3-2. 80. Del Horno. Lost marker to head Yeste free kick past Petkovic.

Athletic Bilbao were the first Spanish team to kick off in the first round of the new look UEFA cup, with a prize of a place in the league stage at stake. However they were under pressure right from the start in the fearsome Huseyin Avni Aker stadium, and seemed to be on their way out when Trabzonspor went two goals up within the first half hour, Javi González putting through his own net and Yilmaz getting another just three minutes later.

Bilbao fought back in the second half, with efforts from Etxeberría and Yeste testing Petkovic. But the Turkish side scored a third goal with twenty minutes to go when Gokdeniz forced his way past Aranzubia, and the local crowd celebrated what appeared to be the goal which would take them through. But Athletic's fighting spirit showed through, and Gurpegui and Del Horno pulled two goals back to set up an exciting second leg in the San Mamés stadium in two weeks' time.