Sporting de Gijon 2 - 1 Athletic Bilbao: Duje Cop and Victor Rodriguez on target as Sporting Gijon beat Athletic Bilbao

Posted Monday, August 22, 2016 by PA

Sporting Gijon scored twice in the space of three minutes at the start of the second half to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in their LaLiga opener at El Molinon.

It was a positive start from the hosts, who had narrowly avoided relegation last season.

Duje Cop and Victor Rodriguez struck swiftly after half-time before Borja Viguera netted a late consolation, with the contest overshadowed by racist chanting from a section of the home support.

Midfielder Moi Gomez, a summer signing from Getafe, shot over before Bilbao forward Inaki Williams saw an effort saved - the latter causing a pause in play as the referee asked for a stadium announcement to be made after Williams was subject to racist chants, with Athletic Bilbao later confirming the incident on their Twitter account.

Gijon went close through Victor Rodriguez, who like Gomez made a summer move from LaLiga2 side Getafe.

Duje Cop broke the deadlock in the 50th minute with a superbly-taken goal when the on-loan Dynamo Zagreb frontman hooked in an acrobatic volley after a corner was sent over from the right by Burgui.

Before the visitors could mount a recovery, they were 2-0 down following a blistering counter-attack.

A Bilbao corner was quickly cleared, with Gomez released down the left. The midfielder laid the ball forward into the path of the onrushing Rodriguez, who drilled the ball into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Gijon could have further extended their lead from the penalty spot on the hour when Burgui was tripped by Bilbao defender Eneko Boveda.

However, Isma Lopez, who used to play for Bilbao, saw his penalty, hit straight down the middle, saved by Gorka Iraizoz before then blasting the rebound over.

Burgui went close when he cut in from the left and curled the ball off the top of the crossbar.

With four minutes left, Bilbao substitute Viguera flicked in Williams' drive at the near post.