Athletic Bilbao have the difficult task of overwhelming Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final scheduled for May 25, at the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 Calderon, home of their UEFA Europa League conquerors.
Los Leones have the history aginst them as they take on Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final being hosted in the Spanish capital. It was the first trophy La Blaugrana won under Guardiola’s trophy and looks set to be their final honour under
him as he leads the Catalan club for the final time.
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Radamel-Falcao-c30276 who scored two goals on the fateful night in Bucharest
to earn European honours for Atletico Madrid.
The Argentine manager is looking to continue with his preferred eleven which boasts of five survivors from their 2009 meeting with Barcelona.
Interestingly, there are five players who were introduced to the first team at the start of the season and will be taking on the Catalan club from the get go.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ander-Herrera-c5543, Iturraspe and Aurtenetxe are the players which Bielsa is entertaining the thought of starting. From the exception of Herrera, the rest of the players have graduated from Bilbao’s youth academy.
Herrera’s inclusion in the first team shows the meteoric rise in his fortunes. The youngster was playing for the reserves four months ago after failing to impress Bielsa and suffering from injury concerns.
There are 13 players remaining in the roster who can boast of being a part of the team that challenged Barcelona at the Mestalla in the Copa del Rey. However, only five of them are expected to start for Los Leones while the rest have faded into obscurity
over the year.
Iraizoz, Iraola, Amorebieta, Javi http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Martinez-c24468 and Llorente make up the experienced members of the squad who still have the unpleasant feelings of losing out to their Catalan rivals.
Bilbao have a rich history in the competition, being the second most storied club behind http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604. La Blaugrana have won the Copa del Rey a total of 25 times, while the Basque stand with 23 triumphs.
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