Mixed results for Spanish sides in the opening day of the Europa League. Athletic Bilbao went a goal down against Augsburg when Altintop beat Herrerín early on, but two from Aduríz after the restart and a last minute strike from Susaeta made it 3-1 to the Basque side in the end. A much changed Villarreal lost 2-1 at Rapid Vienna though, even though Leo Baptistao headed them into the lead on the stroke of half time. However a Schwab strike and a Steffen Hofmann penalty in the first ten minutes of the second half turned the scoreline around. (17.09.15)
Athletic Bilbao kicked off the league stage of the competition with a 3-1 victory over debutants Augsburg in the San Mamés stadium. The German side took the lead early on after Herrerín could only push out a shot by Esswein, Altintop scoring at the second attempt after his first header was blocked by a defender. And only a couple of good saves by Herrerín, in particular from Matavz and Esswein, prevented the visitors from going further ahead. After the break though Athletic came back, Aduríz powering a header past Hitz from a Beñat corner, and then scoring a second with a shot into the roof of the net after Susaeta battled through from outside of the area. And with the game coming to an end Susaeta added a third with a strike which the keeper could only push in off the bar to take Valverde’s team to the top of their group. (17.09.15)
Villarreal lost their opening Europa League game, Marcelino’s side beaten 2-1 by Rapid Vienna despite leading at half time. The coach made no less than ten changes to the line-up he put out in the league at the weekend, but even so they went in front when Leo Baptistao flung himself forward to head Rukavina’s cross inside the far post just before the break. However some five minutes after the restart Schwab made it all square, beating Barbosa at the second attempt from a Steffen Hoffmann free kick, and just three minutes later Hofmann made it two from the penalty spot after Bonera tripped Prosenik inside the penalty area. Marcelino brought on Castillejo, Bakambu and Nahuel, but Novota and his defence held fast, and Villarreal now have to get positive results from their next two home matches against Viktoria Plsen and Dinamo Minsk to get their campaign back on track. (17.09.15)