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Caicedo not taking Bilbao lightly Lokomotiv Moscow forward Felipe Caicedo admits his side's Europa League round-of-32 tie against Athletic Bilbao is finely poised.

Caicedo and Denis Glushakov were on target as Lokomotiv came from a goal behind to win the first leg 2-1 at Lokomotiv Stadium.

The return leg at the San Mamis could yet hinge on Athletic's away goal, but Caicedo believes his team have been helped by their recent winter break.

"We were really pleased with the way we played in the second half, but this tie is not finished," the Ecuadorian said.

"We still have to play the second leg and it's going to be very difficult.

"Athletic have played a lot of games recently and the fact we were very fresh really helped us.

"The fact that we conceded an away goal will make the return leg in Bilbao harder for us. The next game is going to be very tough for us." Athletic coach Marcelo Bielsa, who is reportedly under consideration as a potential replacement for Andre Villas-Boas if the Chelsea manager is sacked, is confident his side can overcome the deficit.

"We are hopeful we can reverse this defeat. The tie is over two legs and with a difference of one goal, there is no way we can be less than hopeful," he said.

"Our opponents won the first leg, but there are high expectations we can mount a comeback in the return." Athletic forward Iker Muniain has urged his side to forget their second-half capitulation at Lokomotiv Stadium.

"We played really well in the first half, creating a number of good opportunities," he said.

"However, in the second half we lost fluidity and were unable to keep control of possession.

"We gave the ball away too much. The second half decided the encounter.

Athletic Bilbao vs Lokomotiv Moscow

Last modified 20:32 23/02/12

Muniain the hero for Athletic Iker Muniain struck as 10-man Athletic Bilbao claimed a 1-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow to advance to the last 16 of the Europa League by virtue of the away goals rule.

Lokomotiv were 2-1 winners in the first leg and seemed content to sit on that result in Spain - a mission that seemed to become significantly easier when Fernando Amorebieta was sent off for a second yellow card on the hour mark.

But just two minutes after his departure, Muniain put the hosts ahead from a corner and Lokomotiv were powerless to get a goal of their own despite having the time and the numerical advantage to do so.

It took 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.

Fernando 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.