Good evening everyone and welcome to our live coverage as Athletic Bilbao welcome BATE Borisov to the San Mames Stadium in Group H of the Champions League. Neither of these sides can make it into the knockout stages, but both can still reach the Europa League. Bilbao need a point tonight, while visiting BATE will need a win on Spanish soil.

The Belarusian side were victorious in the reverse of this fixture, by claiming a 2-1 win at the Borisov Arena - courtesy of goals from Denis Polyakov and Aleksandr Karnitski.

Tonight's visitors have been shipping goals in great abundance, with a single Athletic goal tonight meaning that BATE would set a new record for most group-stage goals conceded. The Spanish side will be hoping to level up their footballing history with a victory tonight, given that they had never faced a team from Belarus up until meeting BATE on match day two.

Bilbao have been in good form at home when in European competitions and they'll be hoping they can extend that this evening. As it stands, Athletic have lost two of their last 17 home European matches, winning eight.

BATE have hardly been the most resilient when facing Spanish opposition either. Up until they beat Bilbao this campaign, Borisov had lost all eight of their home and away contests with Spanish sides, scoring three goals and conceding 25.

Athletic suffered a minor blip this weekend when playing in the Spanish top flight. Ernesto Valverde's side had been five games unbeaten in all competitions, before losing 1-0 to bottom-placed Cordoba CF on Saturday - it was the visitors' first Liga win in over 42 years.

There's some potential history in the making tonight. Should Dmitri Likhtarovich face up against Athletic, he will move level with Aleksandr Hleb's national record of 92 appearances in UEFA club competitions.

Athletic will be sweating on the fitness of 33-year-old striker Aritz Aduriz. He's Bilbao's top goalscorer this season with six goals in 14 games, however he sat out Saturday's loss with a muscular issue.

Despite Saturday's surprising loss, tonight's hosts should be on a high given that Mikel San Jose's goal against Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday five has given them a real chance of saving something from their European ambitions this season.

Some team news for you now...

ATHLETIC BILBAO STARTING XI: Iraizoz; Laporte, San Jose, Iraola, Balenziaga, Ander Iturraspe, de Marcos, Ibai Gomez, Susaeta, Rico, Guillermo Fernandez

ATHLETIC BILBAO SUBSTITUTES: Iago Herrerín, Aurtenetxe, MorAn, Muniain, Lopez, Aritz Aduriz, Viguera

BATE BORISOV STARTING XI: Soroko, Khagush, Filipenko, Tubic, Yablonski, Karnitski, Aleksandr Volodko, Olekhnovich, Maksim Volodko, Rodionov, Gordeychuk

BATE BORISOV SUBSTITUTES: Chernik, Gayduchik, Likhtarovich, Aleksievich, Baga, Yakovlev, Signevich

So Athletic have decided to start with Aritz Aduriz on the bench, meaning that 21-year-old Guillermo Fernandez will get the chance to state his case to further represent Bilbao in the future. He'll start alongside Ibai Gomez, while the hosts will be relying on the guile of Markel Susaeta to connect midfield with attack.

The visitors are able to welcome back Anri Khagush at the back after he's finished serving a one-game suspension. The experienced Likhtarovich will have to try and equal Hleb's record from the bench, though.

The Basque country should play hosts to a really intriguing fixture, given that everything is still up for grabs in terms of the Europa League. Bilbao are clearly the favourites here, but BATE are no minnows in Belarus - they recently won the Belarusian league title for the ninth consecutive year, finishing top of the table by a massive ten points. Borisov are in the Champions League group stages for the fourth time overall and the third time in four seasons.

Here's a view from outside the San Mames Stadium a little earlier this evening:

San Mamés se prepara para la cita de esta noche #ATHChampions @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/qh1fVRlfOi — Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) December 10, 2014

Borisov have been taking stock of their season after their league recently finished, so they could head into this fixture with some real fresh legs in the team. They'll also be wanting to put a few things right having suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Shakhtar and Porto during this competition.

Oscar de Marcos will certainly be one to watch for the Spanish side. He's often deployed in a full-back position, but everyone in the Basque knows of his attacking qualities too. Tonight he's being given the chance to try and push his side forward with a progressive midfield role.

Both coaches have been speaking to the press ahead of this clash, here's what Bilbao boss Valverde has had to say:

"We anticipate a tough game, like in the reverse fixture. BATE can only extend their European campaign if they win. A draw is enough for us but victory would get us a better draw for the UEFA Europa League."

Boris manager Aleksandr Yermakovich has also told of the tough test he expects in Spain tonight:

"It's going to be a difficult, complicated game and we will not be attacking from the outset. Our win against Athletic in the reverse fixture was no real surprise as we knew we could achieve victory with a great display, with every player performing at the highest level. We had success and luck, and our victory was deserved."

Bilbao have been getting increasingly better having started out their La Liga campaign in a rather poor fashion. At the start they'd picked up only four points from seven domestic games. Things are on the up, ignoring Saturday's defeat, with Athletic grabbing 14 points from seven of their last fixtures.

We've got 15 minutes to go until kickoff now and it's time for me to give a prediction. I think Bilbao are going to secure progression here. They've got far too much quality when on the ball to let this one slip at home. For me, I'm saying 3-0 to Athletic.

Here's a snapshot of what it's like inside Bilbao's home arena, taken a little while ago:

@FCBATE out first to warm up, with 35 mins to go before KO at San Mames. Will they catch @AthleticClub cold? #UCL pic.twitter.com/CGEENDgfy7 — Nick Aitken (@UEFAcomNickA) December 10, 2014

The hosts will be wary of the creative presence of Aleksandr Karnitski, he'll look to play in the number ten role and possesses both pace and strength. It was his finish that really did for Bilbao when they lost to BATE on matchday two.

Athletic coach Valverde has also been speaking out to warn his team against complacency when facing the away side:

"Our worst game in the Champions League came against BATE; they were very good and we were not. We know they are tough opponents. If we start thinking that they have shipped a lot of goals, we'll start thinking that they are worse than us... and then we will lose."

Five minutes to go now and the San Mames is heating up nicely... I'm hoping to see some nice passing from the hosts as they look to book their place in the Europa League. Don't forget they've also got the spark of the Iker Muniain on the bench if things become troublesome.

The players are now making their way out of the tunnel as we await the start of this contest. First they'll line up for the Champions League anthem, followed by handshakes and all the other necessaries.

Bilbao will play in their home red and white strip, with the visitors turning out in yellow. We're close to a full-house here, just a few empty seats in the ground.

KICKOFF! Here we go then Borisov get us going kicking from right to left. It's a long ball pumped out left to Karnitski on the flank, but he can't hold it up and Bilbao win a throw.

The hosts get their foot on the ball and start to move it across the pitch in neat, short bursts. They end up feeding it down the right flank via Iraola, whose touch is poor and the ball runs out for a throw, poor play really...

Guillermo looks to stretch the BATE back line early on, but the pass is overhit and the ball runs out for a goal kick. The ball is launched into play, leaving the hosts to win it back. Susaeta has it on the right and he lays the ball back across goal for the on-rushing Rico, but his tasty shot is blocked before it troubles the keeper.

It's been all Athletic in these opening moments, we all know that BATE don't tend to keep the ball well. They'll need to improve on that otherwise tonight will be a long, long evening.

SAVE! Gomez breaks through the BATE defence and he pushes towards goal. With no teammate in sight he pulls off a stunning shot towards the top corner, which forces a wonderful save from Champions League debutant Soroko.

The hosts look quick on the break tonight too. This time they win the ball from a poor BATE corner, leaving Gomez to be picked out by a long throw down to the half-way line. The frontman pulls off some great skill to keep the ball in and beat his marker, but the referee thinks the ball's gone out.

Great run from Susaeta into the right channel who brings the ball out of the air and over his defender with one neat touch. However, his cross is a little disappointing and BATE clear with a simple header. They'll need to improve the quality of these final balls

Soroko is given his second touch of the evening as Susaeta tries to cause more trouble down the right side of the pitch. Again, though, the cross is poor and the keeper can claim with ease.

Iraizoz has to think on his feet as BATE lump a long ball straight in behind the defence. Rodionov is on the case as he chases it down, leaving the Bilbao keeper to rush off his line and clear into touch. Great keeping, poor defending.

Gomez has been the most threatening in the opening exchanges. This time he peels off to the left and receives a long ball sent in from Rico Moreno. He takes it down nicely, only to waste the opportunity with a terrible cross into the box.

SAVE! Nice work down in the left corner of the pitch as Gomez is slipped in behind, leaving the BATE defence to shift over and make the tackle. Gomez goes close again as the ball is laid off to him on the edge of the six-yard box, which forces a great fingertip save from Soroko who tips it over the bar.

YELLOW CARD! It's taken them a while but Athletic are starting to get things moving with more pace. Balenziaga brings the ball out from the back at pace, until he is brought down by Yablonski, who goes into the book

YELLOW CARD! Iraola is book now as he makes an importantly cynical challenge on Volodko who looks to get in behind the defence.

CLOSE! Great chance for Athletic to take the lead with played in down the right channel. The full-back sends it in first time to Gomez, who can't quite guide his header on target and it flies over the bar without testing the keeper.

Fantastic defending from Filipenko to keep his side level! Guillermo brings it down with a great chest and should probably shoot first time. However, he takes another touch to turn inside the box, allowing the BATE centre-back to stick a foot in and win the ball back at the vital moment.

SAVE! Guillermo goes from distance now, with the striker showing his capabilities on his left. It's an effort from great distance towards the bottom corner, but Soroko has it covered down to his left post.

BATE are still to muster an opening and it looks like it's still a long way off given that they can't keep the ball for longer than two passes. Saying that, though, Bilbao have had lots of possession without doing much with it.

Perhaps this could be a game for Muniain? He's been told by his manager that he needs to be contributing more. Judging by this performance, the whole team needs to be doing that if they want to win this game.

SAVE! Bilbao keep coming at the visitors only to slow down when they reach the box. There's no way through at the moment. Balenziaga has a little joy as finds De Marcos inside the left side of the box and he forces a good save from Soroko down to his near post.

Some sloppy play the back as Rico gives up possession on the edge of the area, however Bilbao steal it back and look for the counter. The ball ends back up at the feet of Rico from a poor clearance and he sends in a fierce shot that whistles over the crossbar. Close.

Bilbao get some more space this time as Iraizoz throws out to Gomez who hurries down the left channel. He tries to pick out Guillermo, but Filipenko steps across to clear. The ball then moves out to the right into the feet of Iraola, who finds Guillermo with a cross to the front post, leaving the striker to head wastefully over. Getting closer, the Basques.

Susaeta is becoming increasingly more enterprising. This time he jinks inside the box and beats his defender twice. The squared ball across the box falls to nobody and BATE clear.

The referee calls time on a rather dull first half then. BATE haven't offered anything going forward, but they've done what's been required of them in defence. Meanwhile, Bilbao have had far too much of the ball and have done far too little with it. Gomez and Susaeta have been the most threatening, only to see a lack of willing support around them. Tonight's visitors are well in this encounter still and if Athletic don't make use of their possessional dominance, BATE could come back to haunt them in the closing stages.

BATE will be satisfied with 45 minutes of good work. They haven't played much passing football simply because they haven't really had to. They'll be looking to push on in the final 20 minutes if they can keep it goalless until then.

Bilbao have had so much of the leather, hence possessional statistics of 63%. Athletic have put together 222 passes compared to BATE's 72. The hosts have just lacked a cutting edge, though.

Athletic only need a draw so they won't be too down about that first half display, but I'm sure Valverde will want at least a goal to ensure that there aren't any nerve-jangling moments in the closing minutes. He also has Aritz Aduriz and Muniain to bring on if things do become tricky in the second half.

The home team have already had 13 shots, however only three have been on target. BATE have had just one effort on goal.

We're now awaiting the second half to get back underway as the managers make their way to their respective benches. The players are out on the pitch too and Bilbao are set to get the ball rolling.

KICKOFF! Here we go, the hosts kicking from right to left. Let's hope they can do a little more with the ball this time...

They've finally got it, not too long to wait then! A corner is swung in towards the near post and San Jose gambles first to beat Tubic and guide a side-footed finish into the net. Fantastic effort from the defender, but really lazy marking from the BATE man.

That goal show open this contest up now. BATE need more than one goal and should look to come forward, meaning Bilbao will probably end up with plenty of chances to exploit them down at the other end.

Nervy look from Yablonski towards the referee as he appears to catch Rico in the face with a trailing arm. He's already on a yellow card too. The referee decides to give him another chance, though.

POST! Guillermo is fed in down the left channel just behind the defence, he takes one touch to open up his body before lashing a wonderful effort towards the front post. It looks like it's going to creep in between woodwork and keeper... only the upright has the final say and BATE are spared.

Gordeychuk shows a bit of craft to beat the Bilbao full-back and launch a cross into the box, however Athletic make the clearance and BATE win a corner.

This is a lot more comfortable for the hosts now and it's starting to show as they move the ball around with relative ease in the middle of the pitch. I have no idea where BATE are going to find two goals from.

SUBSTITUTION: One idea would be to bring on a striker and that's exactly what Borisov do. Signevich comes on to replace Volodko.

Almost! Rodionov seems to have made a brilliant run to beat the offside trap and slip in behind the Bilbao defence. However, the linesman raises his flag with Laporte stepping up at the perfect time to win his side the free kick.

Back come Bilbao now with Gomez who is free out on the left. The young winger shows great feet to beat Khagush, however his cross is cleared at the front post with De Marcos trying to get to it.

Susaeta plays with great vision as he pings the ball out from the centre of the pitch to Gomez on the left. He cuts inside and goes for the curled effort, which lands harmlessly in the arms of Soroko. Hmm, he had better options to go for, a waste.

Wonderful touch from De Marcos in the centre to get the ball moving. He takes the keeper's kick forwards with a lovely touch, which picks out Guillermo. The striker lays it off for Susaeta whose shot is blocked on its way to goal.

Lots of space is opening up for the hosts. Iturraspe has time in the middle and he thrashes a pass out into the direction of Iraola, but it's going a little too much on it and runs out for a goal kick.

SUBSTITUTION: Iraola is replaced by youngster Lopez. It appears as if the captain strained something as he tried to get onto that ball from Iturraspe.

CLOSE! Gomez goes close this time as he tries to exploit a free kick from just outside of the box. He gets it over the wall and down again, only its accuracy is a slight issue as the ball flies past the post without troubling Soroko.

SUBSTITUTION: Guillermo is replaced by the experienced Aduriz as Bilbao aim to see out the result. He's a clinical threat going forward too.

SAVE! Susaeta tests the keeper with a shot from the edge of the area. He's originally piled to the floor where he manages to keep the ball and scramble to his feet. Once up, he tries one with his right that looks headed for the near post, but Soroko is across to make the diving save.

SUBSTITUTION: Likhtarovich comes on to replace Rodionov. He now matches Aleksandr Hleb's Belarusian record for the most appearances in UEFA club competitions.

Total dominance from the hosts now as they keep possession in the final third. They've been in control all evening, but you can really see why they've had trouble scoring of late. Not much movement up front, so they revert to short passes in the middle.

SUBSTITUTION: Final move the Bilbao as Borja Viguera comes on for Gomez.

Viguera has only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds and he provides an assist for Susaeta, who's been one of the better players on the pitch. The ball is chipped across the box, where the midfielder is left unmarked allowing him to drill an expert finish back across goal and into the bottom corner.

Three minutes of additional time to be played at the San Mames Stadium...

Almost a chance for the visitors as San Jose sells his goalkeeper short. However, Iraizoz does just about enough to get his foot on it and clear the ball away.

It was hardly an awe-inspiring performance from Bibalo, but they've qualified for the Europa League. The hosts were greatly improved in the second half and fully deserved the three points based purely on the final 45 minutes. BATE were simply not good enough, despite all of their fight and spirit, and they'll go home having finished bottom of the group.