Europa League

Hertha Berlin 0 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Hertha: Kraft; Pekarík, Langkamp, Rekik, Plattehardt; Darida, Lustenberger; Weiser, Duda, Kalou (Haraguchi 85’); Ibisevic (Leckie 76’). 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Herrerín; Lekue, Laporte, Etxeita, Balenziaga; San José, Mikel Vesga; Williams (Susaeta 85’), Muniain (Aketxe 90’), Córdoba (Raúl García 71’); Aduriz. 4-2-3-1.

Goals: None.

Yellow cards: Weiser 26’, Mikel Vesga 43’, Ibisevic 60’, San José 62’.

Athletic Bilbao came through two tricky qualifying rounds to make it through to the league stage of the competition, and they started off with a 0-0 draw at Hertha Berlin in what on paper is their most difficult tie of the group stage. Ziganda’s team had the better of the first half, Aduríz and Muniain bringing good saves out of Kraft early on, and Lekue volleying a shot wide. After the restart however it took a great performance from Herrerín to ensure the result, the visiting keeper making a string of saves in particular from Plattehardt, Kalou and Ibisevic, and only a good tackle by Laporte prevented Haraguchi from winning it near the end.