A 2-3 win against Athletic Club takes the team into the Champions League knockout stage

Sporting Clube de Portugal went straight into the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 thanks to a sensational turnaround against Athletic Club, winning 3-2 in Bilbao on the final matchday of the league phase.

The victory was the club's first ever on Spanish soil, and came thanks to a stoppage time goal from Alisson Santos.

Rui Borges made changes to the starting XI in the Basque country, with Matheus Reis and Luís Guilherme making way for Ousmane Diomande and Daniel Bragança.

Highly motivated after their unexpected victory away to Atalanta BC on the previous matchday of the competition, Athletic Club had their last roll of the dice to avoid elimination.

The home side's attacking attitude resulted in a goal just 3 minutes after the opening whistle, when the ball fell to Oihan Sancet. The striker shot and scored to put Athletic Club in front.

Sancet tried his luck again in the 7th minute, but put his effort off-target. At the other end, Sporting CP finally managed to play out from the back, but Francisco Trincão's final pass didn't quite find Luis Suárez.

Seeking to steady the game, Sporting CP found the necessary formula in the 12th minute: From a corner, Maxi Araújo put the ball into the area and Diomande, who hadn't played club football for over a month, headed in to equalise.

From that moment on, the intensity dipped, with Sporting CP dominating.

Athletic's Sancet shot again, but Diomande blocked the strike to keep things even.

Goal opportunities were scarce, and the 26th minute brought a setback for Sporting CP with an injury to Gonçalo Inácio. Matheus Reis was brought on to replace him, and experienced misfortune shortly after: Gorka Guruzeta took advantage of a lost ball, hit the post and then converted the rebound to make it 2-1.

Athletic Club fullback Yuri Berchiche's header went well wide before halftime, in the only other chance of note.

The first dangerous attack after the break came from the hosts, with Iñigo Ruiz De Galarreta striking from distance off a direct free kick, shooting just outside the post.

In response, also from outside the area, Morten Hjulmand forced Unai Simón into a save.

In the 53rd minute, Rui Borges made a triple substitution, bringing on Pedro Gonçalves, Eduardo Quaresma, and Hidemasa Morita, and taking off Daniel Bragança, João Simões, and Ousmane Diomande.

Chasing the deficit, Sporting CP were more dominant, whilst their opponents relied more on counterattacks. Gradually, greater possession translated into closer attacks on goal. In one instance, after a good move and cross from Maxi Araújo, Geny Catamo mishit the ball and shot over from a good position.

However, in the following minute (62'), Sporting CP managed to make it 2-2. After attacking through the middle, they benefitted from an incomplete clearance by a defender, leaving the ball for Francisco Trincão. He went through on Unai Simón and took the opportunity.

Catamo's dangerous shot forced an excellent save from Unai Simón in the 71st minute, and Luis Suárez had a goal disallowed for offside shortly afterwards.

A penalty decision for a foul on Catamo was , reversed after consulting VAR. Pedro Gonçalves shot wide, and then Sporting CP had to withstand a push upfield from Athletic Club.

Allison Santos had been brought on by Rui Borges, and had a big impact on the result.

After a corner for the home team, Rui Silva intercepted and launched Sporting CP into a counter-attack, which ended with Luis Suárez going one-on-one with Unai Simón. The goalkeeper made the save, but the rebound landed at the feet of Alisson Santos, who managed to control and score the historic goal to make it 2-3 just before the final whistle.

The superb result put Sporting CP directly into the Round of 16 of the competition, the draw for which will take place on February 27th.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande (Eduardo Quaresma, 53'), Gonçalo Inácio (Matheus Reis, 26'), Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand [C], João Simões (Hidemasa Morita, 53'), Geny Catamo, Daniel Bragança (Pedro Gonçalves, 53'), Francisco Trincão (Alisson Santos, 87') and Luis Suárez.