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Athletic Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz humble after five-goal haul sets club record

Athletic Bilbao forward Aritz Aduriz played down his heroics after becoming the second Spanish player to score five goals in a game in European club competition during his club's 5-3 Europa League triumph over Genk.

Aduriz, 35, went into the encounter having scored 16 goals in continental competition for Athletic, but had not found the back of the net in this season's Europa League before the Group F clash with the Belgian club

But Thursday's five strikes saw him overtake Fernando Llorente to become his team's all-time top scorer in Europe with 21 goals.

"It's not every day you score five goals and I'm very happy about that. I honestly don't think I've made history but maybe I will value it more in the future," Athletic's 10th all-time top scorer with 131 goals, Aduriz told Onda Cero radio.

Aduriz was a youth-team player at Athletic and is in his third spell with the club since returning from Valencia in 2012 but his feat on Thursday was one of his finest moments in his career.

"Of course, I'm very happy with the work that I've done but I just have to thank my teammates," the Spain international added. "I'm nothing without the team. They do the work and I finish it off."

Athletic had taken just three points from their opening three group games and were under pressure to take maximum points against the Belgium side.

"We really needed those three points to continue in the Europa League," Aduriz said. "We are very enthusiastic to do great things in this competition."

Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde was glad to be at the San Mames stadium to witness Aduriz's performance.

He told Marca: "It's the first time one of my players scored five goals, more so in Europe and in a game of these characteristics.

"We are fortunate to have Aduriz in our team.

"We are lucky to have witnessed this and to be able to say one day: I was there that day."

Jose Antonio Zaldua achieved the feat in the 1965-66 campaign while playing for Barcelona against Utrecht in the European Fairs Cup on 6. Oct. 1965.