http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marcelo-c23554 Bielsa’s charges overcame a stiff Sporting side to earn a UEFA Europa league final showdown against Atletico Madrid.
Athletic Bilbao went into the crunch UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg tie looking to overcome the one-goal disadvantage they accrued to Sporting Lisbon in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 in their 2-1 defeat.
Los Leones produced a breath taking football show at the San Mames to win the tie 3-1, earning progress to the European showpiece event’s final 4-3 on aggregate.
The Basque outfit started the proceedings after the quarter-hour mark with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ricky-van-Wolfswinkel-c31131 equalized for the visitors in vain as Ibai Gomez gave the home side lead once again in first-half’s added time.
However, it was talisman, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Llorente-c13671, who continued his exceptional goal scoring form in the current season to earn a final berth. The Spanish international scored from close range in 88th minute to effectively knockout the Portuguese pretenders.
Llorente was understandably happy with his performance and his peers as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Athletic-Club-c38535 made their way to the final. The Basque national claimed his winning goal as the most important of his career, and exclaimed his ambitions of lifting the esteemed trophy.
"We have made history, and hopefully we can continue doing so," he told Canal+ in the wake of the game. "It's great to reach the final, and hopefully we can win it.”
"It was my most important [goal]."
"I'm speechless. It was incredible from the pitch. You don't see this anywhere else. It was amazing."
Athletic Bilbao will take on the challenge of El Cholo’s Atletico Madrid in the Romanian capital on May 9 at 20 45 Central European Time. Los Rojiblancos booked their place at the expense of fellow La Liga outfit, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863, after beating them convincingly
5-2 on aggregate.
It is the second knock out competition Los Leones find themselves contending for honours. The Basque entity will lock horns against Pep Guardiola’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Incidentally the final of the Spanish domestic cup competition will be played at the home of their European rivals, the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 Calderon.
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