Athletic Club mounted a dramatic comeback to overturn a deficit and beat Atalanta BC 3–2 in the UEFA Champions League, claiming only their second away victory in 12 games against Italian opposition and breathing new life into their qualification hopes.

The visitors, needing a positive result to keep their progression hopes realistic, started brightly but were unable to convert an early chance. Gorka Guruzeta, whose last four club goals had all come on the road, mishit an attempt inside the opening minute, firing wide.

Atalanta quickly seized control and took the lead just after the 15-minute mark. Nicola Zalewski’s cross from the left found Gianluca Scamacca, who rose highest to head past Unai Simón, ending a five-game goal drought.

The Italian side continued to press, with Lorenzo Bernasconi curling narrowly wide, Scamacca seeing a second effort ruled out for offside, and Charles De Ketelaere rattling the post. Athletic were fortunate to reach half-time just one goal down, their last 11 UCL away matches highlighting their struggle to find the net on the road.

The second half began in similar fashion, with Atalanta pressing for a two-goal cushion. Davide Zappacosta twice went close, first firing straight at Simón and then narrowly missing, leaving Athletic seemingly in a difficult position.

However, Athletic’s equaliser came in surprisingly straightforward fashion. A long ball unlocked the Atalanta defence, with Guruzeta receiving a return pass from Robert Navarro and calmly slotting home — his fourth goal in his last five appearances for the club — to make it 1–1 and break Athletic’s UCL away goal drought since Matchday 3.

The visitors seized the momentum, and 20 minutes from time, Nico Serrano, on the pitch for less than two minutes, volleyed home Navarro’s cross at the back post to put Athletic ahead. Moments later, Navarro himself struck after a precise Oihan Sancet pass, seemingly sealing the win. Atalanta hit back in the 88th minute through Nikola Krstovic, assisted by Ademola Lookman, setting up a tense finish.

Athletic held firm in the closing stages, securing just their third away victory of the season against top-flight opposition and climbing into the top 24. Atalanta, meanwhile, saw their three-match UCL winning streak ended and dropped out of the top eight, leaving their qualification hopes in jeopardy.