Two goals from Fernando Llorente and one each from Oscar de Marcos and Iker Muniain earned Bilbao a Europa League quarter-final first-leg win at Schalke.
Raul earlier gave Schalke a 2-1 lead together with his double, before the Spanish side fought back to earn victory.
Elsewhere, AZ Alkmaar shocked Valencia with a 2-1 victory, while Sporting Lisbon saw off Metalist 2-1.
And Atletico Madrid substitute Eduardo Salvio scored within the closing stages to earn a 2-1 victory over Hannover 96.
Europa League quarter-final first-leg results
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Hannover 96
AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Valencia
Schalke 2-4 Athletic Bilbao
Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Metalist Kharkiv
Bilbaos victory in Germany gives them a crucial advantage heading into the second one leg on 5 April. Llorente had given the visitors a 20th-minute lead before former Real Madrid striker Raul equalised two minutes later.
Raul had given Schalke the lead at the hour with an incredible left-foot volley but Spain international Llorente showed why he's so highly rated across Europe with a headed equaliser within the 73rd minute.
Bilbao took control of the tie with eight minutes remaining after De Marcos converted from close range and Muniain sealed the victory with a very good finish into the roof of the web from the threshold of the realm.
Alkmaar caused the most important shock of the night with their 2-1 victory over Valencia. Aston Villa-bound striker Brett Holman gave the Dutch side a primary-half lead with a volley straight from a corner before Mehmet Topal equalised within the 51st minute.
And with 11 minutes remaining Maarten Martens made it 2-1 to the hosts, side-footing Holmans cutback from six yards out to earn Alkmaar victory.
Fernando Llorente
Age: 27
Club: Athletic Bilbao
Spain caps: 20
Position: Forward
Goals this season: 25 (six in Europe)
Sporting Lisbons win against Ukrainian side Metalist was easier although the Portuguese side were made to work flat out late on after conceding a 91st-minute penalty which Cleiton Xavier converted.
Earlier, Marat Izmailovs strike and Emiliano Insuas free-kick had given them a 2-0 lead.
Atletico Madrid needed a 89th-minute goal to seal victory over Hannover 96 with substitute Salvio curling a shot from the sting of the world into the head corner of the online to provide them a primary-leg advantage.
Before Salvios winner, Falcao headed in his seventh Europa League goal of the season before Hannover 96 equalised through former Manchester United striker Mame Diouf.
From WhatNewsToday.net
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