Iker Muniain was the hero for Athletic Bilbao as his goal took them through on away goals against Lokomotiv Moscow.
Muniain on target for Basque giants
Iker Muniain was the hero for Athletic Bilbao as his goal took them through on away goals against Lokomotiv Moscow.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Russia, things seemed to be going against Bilbao as Fernando Amorebieta was dismissed on the hour.
But just moments later Muniain was on hand to give his side the win, which was enough to take them into the last 16 of the Europa League.
It had taken 10 minutes for Athletic to fashion the first chance of the game, Javi Martinez getting on the end of Markel Susaeta's corner but sending his shot over the crossbar.
Muniain did better with his side's next chance, forcing Marinato Guilherme into making the save with an effort from 20 yards.
Lokomotiv, with their slender aggregate advantage, were doing little to force the issue at the other end of the pitch - a blocked 21st-minute attempt by Dennis Glushakov the best they mustered in a first half that otherwise consisted of attempts to stifle their opponents.
Taras Burlak, Alberto Zapater and Dmitri Tarasov were each penalised for fouls as the Russian side sought to impose themselves on Athletic, who lost their own discipline in response and committed a series of transgressions.
Susaeta had a couple of chances to create the opening with crosses from the left, but they came to nothing and he was one of two players replaced at the interval alongside Ander Iturraspe.
Inigo Perez and Mikel San Jose were the substitutes and the latter created a good chance nine minutes after coming on when he whipped in a cross for Fernando Llorente, who headed wide from 12 yards.
Red
Amorebieta then received two yellow cards in five minutes to put Athletic a man down with half an hour to play and they promptly responded with the opening goal two minutes later.
Andoni Iraola's corner was headed on by Llorente and prodded over the line by Muniain from close range.
The visitors now needed an away goal to get back in front and sent on attacking duo Victor Obinna and Dmitri Sychev.
Finally, they started to offer something in attack with Tarasov and Glushakov both letting fly from outside the area without success.
Manuel da Costa had a last-ditch shot on goal but could not find the target.
