Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper denied stunning injury time equaliser

The new Spanish La Liga season kicked off in dramatic fashion on Saturday as Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz was denied a stunning last minute equaliser against Malaga by a controversial refereeing decision.

With the match entering its fourth minute of added time and Bilbao trailing 1-0 to Luis Alberto's first half-goal, Iraizoz joined the attack.

And remarkably, he thought he had rescued a point for his side as he rose like a seasoned No9 to powerfully head home Ibai Gomez's right wing free-kick.

But as the custodian wheeled away in celebration amid choatic scenes, referee Antonio Mateu blew for a foul at the behest of his linesman.

However, as Bibao players protested in vain, replays of the disallowed goal appeared to show that there was no encroachment and that the goal should have stood.

Malaga, who had been reduced to nine-men in the final two minutes of normal time, breathed a huge sigh of relief. For Bilbao, they must pick themselves up ahead of their Champions League second leg qualifier against Napoli.