Advertisement
AS IT HAPPENED

Europa League as it happened: Man United v Athletic Bilbao

We went minute-by-minute, as Man United hosted Athletic Bilbao in the Round of 16 first leg game.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this evening’s action. E-mail paul@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

Man United 2-3 Athletic Bilbao (FT)

Welcome to our liveblog of this evening’s game between Man United and Athletic Bilbao.

United will be going into this game in a buoyant mood, following their impressive 3-1 win against Tottenham on Sunday.

Breaking: Apparently, Brian Kerr has never heard of the Inspiral Carpets (according to his 3E colleagues anyway). This one’s for you, Brian:

And we’re underway…

Here are your teams:

Man Utd: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Park, Jones, Giggs, Young, Rooney, Hernandez. Subs: Amos, Ferdinand, Anderson, Carrick, Nani, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva.

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Javi Martinez, San Jose, Aurtenetxe, Iturraspe, De Marcos, Ander Herrera, Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain. Subs: Raul, Toquero, David Lopez, Koikili, Inigo Perez, Ekiza, Ibai.

The Spanish Peter Crouch – Fernando Llorente – has shot narrowly wide from just outside the box.

Bilbao have begun well, and look more than willing to throw bodies forward at will.

Also worth mentioning that there was a bit of tension in the 3E studio before the start of the game. Brian Kerr, who has been a vocal critic of the Ireland team lately, is on analysis duty with Keith Andrews.

Andrews, unsurprisingly, defended the team’s tactics, saying:

“We won’t be as hard to beat if we play this free-flowing football that everyone wants us to play.”

Oh dear! Someone needs to tell Chris that Man United are in fact playing Athletic Bilbao:

United have started poorly and Bilbao are well on top at the moment. The Spanish side are dictating the flow of the game.

GOAL FOR MAN UNITED!

As was the case against Spurs on Sunday, United have taken the lead completely against the run of play.

Hernandez’s shot was parried by the keeper, straight into the path of Wayne Rooney, who scores with a simple tap in.

According to Lou Macari, Bilboa have done “exceptionally well,” but it’s “the scoreline that’s the only statistic that counts”.

Clearly so, he’s been to the football pundit school of commentating cliches.

Susaeta’s shot has narrowly found the wrong side of the post. Bilbao continue to impress.

Aside from his goal, Wayne Rooney has looked a tad lackadaisical tonight, giving the ball away cheaply on at least four occasions so far.

De Gea has just made a dire attempt at a kick out, gaining very little distance and hitting it straight out of play.

So much for silencing his critics.

GOAL FOR BILBAO!

An unmarked Llorente scores with a powerful downward header, which leaves De Gea with no chance.

Even the most ardent United fan would admit that the Spanish side deserve to be drawing at the very least.

HALF TIME: MAN UNITED 1-1 ATHLETIC BILBAO

So 1-1, and United’s dodgy European form is once again in evidence. With City losing as well, I think a poll is in order:

Is the poor form of English sides in Europe a reflection of a declining quality in the Premier League?


Poll Results:

Yes (176)
No (43)
I don't kn0w (7)

Again Chris, it’s Athletic. NOT Athletico. That man badly needs a sub-editor.

The second half is underway…

Chris Smalling has just gone off injured, so Michael Carrick has come on, and Phil Jones has gone back to centre half.

Not much change in the second half so far. Bilbao continue to dominate, and have already tested De Gea.

Anderson has replaced Park, as United look to tighten up in midfield.

Good tackle by Evans to stop another threatening Bilbao attack.

GOAL FOR BILBAO!

Lovely chipped through ball to De Marcos, who volleys it home sublimely.

That goal was borderline offside by the way, but United will have little cause for complaint, given how poorly they have played throughout this match.

Amid all that excitement, Nani has replaced Giggs.

All United’s substitutions tonight have involved a change in midfield, which tells its own story.

An out of sorts Hernandez has just backheeled the ball straight into the grateful Bilbao keeper’s path.

De Gea has just made another decent save. The Spaniard has played very well, save that one dodgy kick out (see 20.46).

GOAL FOR BILBAO!

De Marcos’ shot is parried, and Muniain ghosts in as Rafael falls asleep and completely fails to react to the rebound.

GOAL FOR MAN UNITED!

Even though it seems as if it might have been outside the box, United win a penalty after a De Marcos handball, and Rooney makes no mistake with the penalty.

FULL TIME: MAN UNITED 2-3 ATHLETIC BILBAO

I would not like to be in Rafael’s shoes right now in the United dressing room, after he completely lost his concentration for the third Bilbao goal.

So in light of this match, can La Liga be called a “two-team league”? Probably. But that does not necessarily mean the standard of the other Spanish sides is particularly poor.

Want a quick-fire match report? Here it is:

Interesting to note also that the one player United seemed to badly need tonight – Paul Scholes – was not included in the 22.

Alex Ferguson admits his side “didn’t defend well” and that Bilbao were “the better team”.

He said United played well in attack and says, in reference to United’s contrasting league and European form, that it’s difficult to “marry the two”.

He maintains United can still progress through to the next round.

Okay, that’s it from me. United’s Europa League campaign appears to be coming to an end. Thanks, as always, for reading, and for your comments.

Read: LIVE: Sporting Lisbon v Manchester City, Europa League last 16>

Read: Kenny Dalglish lashes media for all those Luis Suarez transfer rumours>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
11
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.