UEFA Europa League

Athletic Club vs Manchester United, 2011/12 UEFA Europa League, Third Round

· 2nd Leg - Athletic Club advance 5-3 on aggregate
  • 23': Fernando Llorente
  • 65': Óscar de Marcos
FT
2 - 1
2nd Leg - Athletic Club advance 5-3 on aggregate
  • 80': Wayne Rooney

About

Athletic Club are hosting Manchester United at San Mames, , Spain, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Europa League.

Match Commentary

  • 0': It looks like Man United will play five in midfield and Rooney as a lone striker after Bilbao strolled through the centre of the pitch in the first leg at Old Trafford.
  • 0': Man United team: De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra; Park, Cleverley, Carrick, Giggs, Young; Rooney.
  • 0': There will be huge responsibility on the shoulders of Cleverley, who is the starting line-up for the first time in a month, but Ferdinand and Carrick come in to add some extra experience.
  • 0': Bilbao, who were so impressive in the first leg, make just one change as Fernando Amorebieta replaces Mikel San Jose.
  • 0': United have never previously succeeded in hauling themselves back from a European defeat on home soil, but Sir Alex Ferguson believes they can do it this time Read
  • 0': Fergie says United need to "perform better than in the first leg". There's no flies on him!
  • 0': It's a cracking atmosphere at San Mames. The Bilbao fans making a real noise. I'm not sure we'll hear much from the 800 travelling United fans.
  • 1': Bilbao get the game underway, kicking from left to right, wearing their famous red and white stripes. United don their all blue kit.
  • 1': Rooney beats the offside trap very early on. He shoots across the goalkeeper but drags his shot and it looks more like a cross.
  • 2': Carrick goes in on Llorente, who wins a freekick 20-yards out. A good shooting opportunity...
  • 3': Aurtenetxe takes the freekick, but his shot is deflected behind for a corner, which United deal with.
  • 4': Rafeal combines well with Park and United counter. Park crosses too deep and a good move breaks down. Sloppy.
  • 5': Bilbao pressure United to give the ball away in defence. Typical of their tactics.
  • 6': Park pops up on the left wing and passes to Young, who whips in a cross but the goalkeeper Iraizoz cliams the ball.
  • 7': United have made a decent start. Bilbao probably on top but Utd carry a threat.
  • 8': Cleverley slips a pass through to Young, whoise shot is blocked by Aurtenetxe.
  • 9': United have the ball but can't find a way through.
  • 10': Rafael gives the ball away and then hacks down Susaeta for a freekick.
  • 11': Rooney collides with Martinez, who comes off worse and gets a freekick.
  • 12': Martinez slips a pass through to Muniain, who shoots against the post. The ball bounces back but is skied over the crossbar by the follow-up striker...De Marcos.
  • 13': A big let off for United that. It should have been a goal for Bilbao.
  • 14': Park is too ponderous on the edge of the Bilbao box, allowing the defence to recover their positions and make the tackle.
  • 15': Young wins a freekick and plays it short to Ferdinand. He should maybe have lumped that into the box.
  • 16': Ferdinand gives Llorente a sneaky push in the back and gets the ball back for United.
  • 17': Bilbao are happy to let United keep the ball in their own half, but as soon as they come forward they swarm all over them.
  • 19': United are defending much better in this second leg. Seeing off Herrera as he looks to slip a pass into the area.
  • 20': Carrick chips a pass down the line for Giggs to chase... maybe five years ago he would have got there.
  • 21': Llorente shoots at the near post but it's a weak effort and De Gea picks up the ball.
  • 22': GOAL Llorente scores! The striker watches a long cross land on his right boot and lashes it into the net, Van Persie-like.
  • 23': A great goal for Bilbao and United have to score three goals now. Unlikely.
  • 24': Park and Giggs combine on the edge of the area but Amorebieta reads the situation well and mops up for Bilbao.
  • 25': Young crosses to the back post, where Giggs' header at goal is defelcted behind for a corner.
  • 26': Iraizoz flaps at the corner but he was being fouled and the ref blows for a freekick.
  • 27': United have a new spring in their step but the red and white defensive wall in Bilbao shows no signs of weakeneing.
  • 28': Carrick falls over looking for foul on the edge of the box. A desperate dive that one.
  • 29': Actually, it was Cleverley and it was a foul. I'll get some new glasses.
  • 30': Evra misjudges the bounce of the ball and then nuts Susaeta in the side of the head. No foul given.
  • 31': It's frustrating viewing for United fans. Their side just aren't creative enough to make the breakthrough.
  • 32': Park made a good start to this match but has faded badly and has just given the ball away cheaply.
  • 33': Bilbao waltz through a massed United defence but De Marcos' chip to the back post is misjudged and drops onto the roof of the net.
  • 34': Rooney is nudged in the back and goes over in the box. No foul given. It would have been a soft penalty if given.
  • 35': It's nearly working for United but the final pass is just a few inches off target, allowing Bilbao to intercept.
  • 36': Stat Park Ji-Sung has started 17 games this season and United lost 7. Without Park starting, United have played 25 and lost just 1.
  • 37': Llorente looks like he might be injured.
  • 38': Bilbao make change. Llorente goes off and on comes Toquero.
  • 39': Carrick chips a pass forward for Rooney, but again it's over-hit just a fraction.
  • 40': United have great chance to break but Rafael pulls up on the ball and looks to be injured.
  • 41': Rafael slipped on a loose piece of turf and went over on his ankle. A tough break for United who had a rare chance to attack.
  • 42':
    Llorente celebrates his goal.
  • 43': Rooney breaks with three team-mates but he picks out the wrong pass. Young is forced wide and can only win a corner.
  • 44': Bilbao win a freekick from the corner and any chance for United to build some pressure is gone.
  • 45': United are forced to go back to De Gea, who hoofs the ball down the pitch as the half-time whistle blows.
  • 0': HT Well, Bilbao have made United look second-rate once again and there will have to be a miraculous reversal of fortunes if the Red Devils are going to get back into this match.
  • 0': HT United have shown signs of life but their collective radar seems to be a bit off and a shot on goal, let alone three actual goals, seems beyond them.
  • 0': HT The problem for Fergie is that if he brings on another forward his side will get over-run in midfield.
  • 46': United get the second-half underway. No changes to the line-up.
  • 47': Evans is hussled into passing back to De Gea, who hoofs the ball down the pitch.
  • 48': Carrick just walks into Susaeta and gives the ball away. This really is painful to watch now.
  • 49': Bilbao ping the ball around on the edge of the box as United's defence stand like statues. Park eventually makes a good tackle.
  • 50': Herrera whips in a freekick but Martinez's header from the edge of the area is way off target.
  • 51': De Marcos wins the ball from Giggs.
  • 52': De Marcos is caught offside and United get the ball back. Cleverley runs straight into Martinez and Bilbao have the ball back.
  • 53': Iraola leaves Carrick on his bum, beats Evans and then after a double roll-back slots a shot just wide of the post. What a goal that would have been.
  • 54': I can't stress enough how bad United's decision making has been tonight. Evans has just passed to his only team-mate that was marked and lost the ball.
  • 55': De Marcos strolls down the right flank unmarked and crosses for unmarked team-mate Toquero, who spoons a shot well over the bar. It should have been a goal...or at least on target.
  • 56': Bilbao are toying with United, who are now so lacking in confidence they are standing way too far off their opponents.
  • 58': Rafael gets booked for a handball.
  • 59': Bilbao take a short freekick and are happy to just keep possession.
  • 60': Carrick plays a pass down the line for Cleverley but it goes straight out of play.
  • 61': Muniain gallops forward, he has players in support but Park makes a good interception for United.
  • 62': Park combines with Rafael in the corner. The defender thinks he has won a corner but the ref says no.
  • 63': United make a double change. Carrick and Ferdinand off. Pogba and Smalling on.
  • 64': Looks like Fergie thinks this game is over and he's now resting key players for the weekend.
  • 65': GOAL De Marcos scores! Torquero's header dropped to his feet and his shot was deflected past De Gea.
  • 66': It doesn't really change much for United. They still need three goals to force extra-time ... but that's never going to happen.
  • 67': Giggs is applauded off by the Bilbao fans and on comes Welbeck.
  • 68': Pogba passes the ball off the end of the pitch for a goal kick.
  • 69': Rafael and Pogba string four passes together before Bilbao win the ball back through Autenetxe.
  • 70': Rafael thinks his cross seems to be handled in the area by Aurtenetxe but the ref doesn't agree.
  • 71': Pogba gets booked for a foul on Herrara. At least he is showing some fight.
  • 72': It's just too easy for Bilbao, who have time to stop, look up and then pick a pass before any United player gets near them. Susaeta is the beneficiary this time but shoots wide form the penalty spot.
  • 73': The leftback Aurtenetxe tries his luck on the right wing and whips in a great cross. Torquero heads over from about six yards out.
  • 74': Rafael drives forward, he is fouled about three times on the right wing but no foul is given. Cleverley takes over and over-hits his cross.
  • 75': Rooney has gone down holding his right ankle. He's back on his feet.
  • 76': There was a good challenge made by Amorebieta as Rooney just stood and waited for the ball to come to him. It's probably just his pride that's injured.
  • 77': Rooney attempts a one-two with Cleverley. Rooney executes the 'one' but the 'two' form Cleverley is shanked down the line.
  • 78': GOAL Rooney scores! The United striker skirts the edged of the box and then curls a shot into the top corner.
  • 79': Even the Bilbao fans applauded that one from Rooney. Just two more goals needed now.
  • 80': Bilbao make a change. Herrera is replaced by Perez.
  • 81': Martinez pretends he has been fouled and gets a freekick in the centre-circle.
  • 82': De Marcos nicks the ball away from Pogba in the box. He flashes a shot across goal from a tight angle. It goes wide.
  • 83': Martinez strides forward and wins a freekick yet again. Bilbao are starting to waste time a bit now.
  • 84': Perez smashes in the freekick from 30-yards out and wins a corner off the United wall.
  • 85': Rafael slips under pressure from Perez. He slips and has to concede a corner.
  • 86': Perez takes the corner himself but United deal with it at the near post.
  • 87': Bilbao make their final change. Muniain goes off and on comes a defender, San Jose.
  • 88': Welbeck lines up a long-range shot, which Iraizoz tips around the post. Good effort that.
  • 89': Young whips in the corner but it's defended well. Young then fouls Aurtenetxe trying to win the ball back.
  • 90': Evra battles well to win the ball on the left flank but then falls over the ball as he cuts inside and tries to create an attack.
  • 90': Pogba drives towards goal, he snubs the chance to shoot from distance and instead passes to Rooney, whose attempted cross goes out for a goalkick.
  • 0': FT Mercifully the final whistle blows and the embarrassment is over for United.
  • 0': FT Bilbao gave the Premier League leaders another footballing lesson and deserve to run out 5-3 winners on aggregate... in fact the scoreline is flattering to United.
  • 0': FT It's been an awful year in Europe for United. They have simply not been good enough. Bilboa, on the other hand, are an excellent side and if they could finish better would have won about 10-1 tonight.

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Europa League

Venue: San Mames
Location: , Spain
Attendance: 40,000

Line-Ups

ATH Athletic Club

No. Name
1 Gorka Iraizoz (GK)
3 Jon Aurtenetxe
5 Fernando Amorebieta
15 Andoni Iraola
24 Javi Martínez
8 Ander Iturraspe
21 Ander Herrera
14 Markel Susaeta Yellow Card
10 Óscar de Marcos
19 Iker Muniain
9 Fernando Llorente

MAN Manchester United

No. Name
1 David de Gea (GK)
3 Patrice Evra
5 Rio Ferdinand
6 Jonny Evans
21 Rafael Yellow Card
13 Park Ji-Sung
16 Michael Carrick
23 Tom Cleverley
11 Ryan Giggs
18 Ashley Young
10 Wayne Rooney

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