SEVILLA, Spain (Interstat) — Sevilla opened its La Liga campaign with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, overcoming an early deficit with two goals in a stunning two-minute span just before halftime.

The match, which defied a pregame projection of a 1-1 draw from Interstat, saw the visiting Athletic Bilbao strike first. In the 40th minute, substitute Roberto Navarro broke the deadlock, finishing a play assisted by fellow substitute Ruiz de Galarreta to stun the home crowd and give the visitors a late first-half lead.

That advantage proved shockingly brief. Sevilla responded almost directly from the restart, leveling the score in the 42nd minute. Forward Peque was the finisher, converting a chance created by midfielder Nemanja Gudelj to immediately erase Bilbao’s momentum and send the teams into the break tied 1-1.

The decisive blow came early in the second half. Sevilla completed its rapid turnaround in the 49th minute when newly acquired forward Akor Adams, marking his competitive debut for the club, found the net. The goal, facilitated by an assist from midfielder Joan Jordán, secured all three points for the hosts and capped a match-defining nine-minute sequence spanning halftime where all three goals were scored.

The victory gives Sevilla an ideal start to the domestic season, moving its record to 1 win, 0 losses in La Liga play. For Athletic Bilbao, the narrow defeat marks an 0-1 beginning to their league campaign. The records across all competitions mirror the La Liga standings for both clubs after this opening fixture.

The contest was a physical affair, with three yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. Ruiz de Galarreta was cautioned in the 21st minute for Athletic Bilbao. Sevilla’s Gudelj received a yellow card in the 62nd minute, and Jordán was booked in the 86th minute as the home side managed the closing stages.

The result aligned with the high probability of a Sevilla victory indicated by Interstat’s ELO system, which gave the hosts a 91.6 percent chance to win, though the path to that outcome—falling behind before a swift, decisive response—provided unexpected drama. Sevilla’s ability to score twice in quick succession ultimately proved the difference, showcasing a potent reaction to adversity that secured the season-opening victory.