Thursday March 15, 2012 Last 16 Finished San Mamés

Athletic Bilbao 2 - 1 Manchester United

  • Llorente 23’
  • De Marcos 65’
  • Rooney 80’

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  1. United crash out of Europe again

    United crash out of Europe again

    Fernando Llorente helped condemn Manchester United to a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao, sending United out of the Europa League. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Athletic Bilbao
    • Manchester United
    • - Thanks for joining me tonight - feel free to Tweet me with your reaction @Reda_Eurosport. FOLLOW ON TWITTER!
    • 90+3 That is it - United crash out of Europe again. Athletic a class act, 2-1 on the night, 5-3 aggregate, should have been more.
    • 90+2 United attack now, too little too late as Rooney spins a cross behind for a goal kick.
    • 90+1 I think we have four minutes added time.
    • 90' Good ball from Young but a long-haired Basque head, Amorebieta's I think, nicks it away. Now Susaeta draws a foul from Young.
    • 90' Young, who has had a poor game, runs into a cul-de-sac on the right but does win a free-kick which he will take himself.
    • 89' A long-range shot from Welbeck forces Iraizoz into a low save! Corner late on...
    • 88' ATHLETIC SUB: San Jose, the defender ex of Liverpool, replaces forward Muniain.
    • 87' Perez puts the corner in but Rooney heads well clear.
    • 86' Rafael slips to let Perez in, he recovers and it's just a corner. Rafael idiotically trying to showboat in his own area.
    • 85' A delay as Spain defender-midfielder Javi Martinez receives treatment.
    • 84' Martinez surges forward a la Beckenbauer and he is taken out by Welbeck and Pogba in combination.
    • 84' DE MARCOS JUST WIDE! Evra gets taken out by a low Iraola ball, great touch from De Marcos and a fine low shot across goal but beyond the far post.
    • 83' Rooney with a smart backheel but Welbeck doesn't read it. Park then fouls Martinez and Athletic will slow things down.
    • 82' ATHLETIC SUB: Perez comes on for Ander.
    • 81' The home fans are almost comically sporting, appluading Rooney's goal having clapped Giggs off.
    • 80' GREAT GOAL BY ROONEY! Hobbling about on one leg he smashes a superb shot into the top right corner from 20 yards. 2-1 (but 5-3)!
    • 79' Evra gets forward, nice low cross but no-one shows for it, Amorebieta clearing.
    • 78' De Gea makes a smart save after Iraola slides De Marcos in, the winger getting beyond Evra but not the keeper.
    • 78' Applause from the hardy Basque fans as Rooney opts to run it off. Unsure why he hasn't been taken off already to be honest - he's done next to nothing.
    • 77' Rooney has gone down holding his ankle after a slide tackle fom Aurtenetxe - this doesn't look great but he's back on his feet.
    • 76' Cleverley with a vital tackle as Iturraspe wriggled through.
    • 75' Blimey, if they can do this every Thursday I can see Athletic winning the Europa League. Toquero spots De Gea off his line and sends a lob just wide!
    • 74' Aurtenetxe again pops up on the right, cutting inside and unleashing Iraola, who plays over a superb cross AND TOQUERO MUST SCORE BUT HE HEADS IT JUST OVER!!
    • 73' Aurtenetxe and Iraola - the full-backs - combine on the edge of the United box but the visitors hack clear!
    • 72' Should have been three! Susaeta scooping his finish wide from 12 yards after a super run and low cross from Aurtenetxe.
    • 70' Pogba is trying a bit too hard, doing well initially but losing his rag after miscontrolling a Rooney pass and sliding in late on an opponent. Booked.
    • 68' Pogba does well to hold off De Marcos but his pass was dreadful, out for a goal kick.
    • 67' UNITED SUB: The whole stadium applauds Giggs as he comes off after played for the 903rd time for United, Welbeck on in his place.
    • 66' United have to score three to force extra-time, four to win. No chance.
    • 65' GOAL ATHLETIC! Game, set, match, tournament for United. Athletic are going through, United crash out of Europe - again. De Marcos with a deflected finish after Toquero's header spun up in the air off Smalling. 2-0, 5-2.
    • 64' Iturraspe holds his head after getting a whack. Athletic restart play.
    • 63' UNITED SUBS: Smalling on for Ferdinand. Carrick off for Pogba.
    • 62' Meanwhile, Athletic once more open United up but they overplay it Arsenal-style when both Muniain and Toquero could have had shots.
    • 61' Smalling and Pogba are warming up now - having started off with his strongest team, Fergie seems to have accepted defeat.
    • 60' Rafael handles quite deliberately and he is booked.
    • 59' You wonder how this team are only 7th in La Liga - well the problem is one of depth. Outside the starting XI they have few quality options - workers, for sure, but not much ability - which means that over the course of a season they struggle to maintain this tempo.
    • 58' Toquero pops up wide right but his cross is cleared. Giggs tries to clear but a sea of home players is in his way and here they come again!
    • 57' Toquero shows why he was a lower-league player a few years ago by blasting over, really poor after he had been put in by Susaeta. A willing runner, not the best footballer.
    • 56' Rooney could be in here, he is on the right, but Amorebieta gets across to shunt him wide and the chance goes. Huge cheers from the home fans.
    • 55' Giggs compensates for an error by chasing Toquero back.
    • 54' ALMOST AN INCREDIBLE GOAL FROM IRAOLA BUT HE PUTS IT WIDE! He beats three United players with a series of drag backs and shimmies but slid the left-foot finish inches wide! Would have been goal of the season! The right-back!!
    • 53' Toquero zips in down the right but his driven cross hits Evra, throw to Athletic.
    • 52' Cleverley wins a free-kick, taken quickly but Rooney runs into a wall of red and white and Athletic counter...
    • 51' Athletic have a free-kick wide right but Ander wastes it, sailing the ball out got a United goal kick.
    • 50' Toquero with a fine cross and, with Muniain set for a volley, Evans nicks it away!
    • 49' Iraola gets in down the right but United hoof it clear. Looks like more of the same this half.
    • 48' Carrick gives it away, shocking touch there, and Toquero offloads to Muniain as Athletic swarm forward again!
    • 47' Susaeta cuts in from the right, but with no Llorente to show for him he shoots and sends it well wide, De Gea watching all the way.
    • 46' The second half is underway! United, remember, have to score three. Good luck to 'em.
    • - Want to have a word with me on Twitter? Do so on @Reda_Eurosport. FOLLOW ON TWITTER!
    • 45+1 Half-time and Athletic are 4-2 up on aggregate, leading 1-0 on the night thanks to a wonder-goal by Fernando Llorente.
    • 45' Iraizoz takes his time with the free-kick, which he eventually pumps long.
    • 44' Young's corner comes in, Toquero heads away and the whistle goes for a Cleverley shove on Ander and it's a free-kick to the hosts.
    • 43' Rooney with a super pass left, Giggs runs over it and Young is in but he's closed down and the cross-shot blocked for a corner!
    • 42' I think Rafael's ankle turned but not too seriously as he is up on his feet and trying to run it off. His clone warms up in case.
    • 41' Rooney with a good lay-off to send rafael away, but Rafael slips awkwardly and is in real pain. Athletic stop playing as the medics run on....
    • 40' ATHLETIC SUB: Llorente comes off for Toquero, who is a busy little forward. Not as good as Llorente, basically a Segunda player given a shot at the big time because he is Basque. Works hard, doesn't score many.
    • 39' Rafael is almost played through by Carrick as Athletic prepare to bring Llorente off.
    • 38' United passing it around patiently, as Athletic continue to chase them down like a swarm of red-and-white bumblebees.
    • 37' Llorente is struggling - it seems that hip complaint that saw him miss training the other day was not a red herring.
    • 36' United are struggling to hold possession, Athletic harassing them for every ball.
    • 35' The Giggs corner is cleared and Athletic break, but the flag is up.
    • 34' Giggs on the left finds Park, he plays it too quickly to him but the Korean keeps the ball, back to Giggs and a cross far post that Rooney attacks but bundled out for a corner.
    • 33' Rooney is furious that advantage was played after a foul when United hadn't retained the ball.
    • 32' I'm told the oroginal pass for Llorente's goal was by Amorebieta, not Aurtenetxe. Hard to tell from that far away but I'll take that on the chin.
    • 31' Evra catches Susaeta as both rise for a header. The Athletic midfielder goes down initially but Evra helps him up and they play on.
    • 30' Cleverley goes down in pain after a trip from Susaeta, who gets away with it.
    • 29' Young wastes his cross from the left and that United attack breaks down. This is better from United.
    • 28' Hacked off the line by Amorebieta as Giggs flies in! United really having a go no!
    • 27' The corner is swung in by Giggs and Iraizoz flaps wildly but Evra shoved him says the ref and a free-kick is given.
    • 26' United respond with a sustained assault on the Athletic final third, Young with a superb cross AND GIGGS WITH A FREE-HEADER but a superb block by Aurtenetxe I think!
    • 25' That is Llorente's 23rd goal of the season. how many would he score at Real Madrid, or (whisper it) United?
    • 24' Fernando Llorente's full name is Fernando Llorente Torres - my how his namesake would like a goal like that.
    • 23' GOAL ATHLETIC BILBAO! LLORENTE WITH A STUNNING VOLLEY! Van Basten-like volley over the shoulder after a 40-yard ball from Aurtenetxe! Ooooh I could watch that all day! (Correction - assist was Amorebieta long ball)
    • 23' De Gea easily gathers at his near post after a somewhat wasteful shot by Ander from a tight angle. Should have crossed.
    • 22' Again Athletic open United up but Rio stays calm to shield it from Susaeta and back to De Gea.
    • 21' Carrick almost sends Giggs clear down the right but he's an old man and hasn't got the legs to reach that.
    • 20' The closest this game has had to a lull sees Athletic win a throw on the left. Muniain almost wriggles clear but cleared by Carrick.
    • 19' Here comes Llorente on the run but Rio is cool and calm to intercept and play back to De Gea. Now Evans brings it clear.
    • 18' The whistles signal a good spell of United possession as Evra skins Susaeta. But Rooney's Hollywood ball for Giggs is cleared and it's all the way back with Rio.
    • 17' In between breaths, United counter, but Cleverley's low cross is too close to Iraizoz. Rooney sitting deep having realised his team-mates are getting overrun in midfield.
    • 16' United now on the charge but they overplay it, Rooney guilty as he leaves Park in trouble and Athletic swarm forward at pace. Breakneck speed this.
    • 15' That would and should have been a classic goal, started by a Beckenbauer-style rampage forward from Martinez. Muniain should have scored, but De Marcos will have nightmares about that miss.
    • 14' TERRIBLE MISS BY DE MARCOS! Athletic carve United apart as Martinez slides it in, Llorente with a super flick to play Muniain clean through but he hits the post - and, with the goal at his mercy, De Marcos fluffs the finish embarassingly high and wide.
    • 13' Rooney with an arm up as he rises with Martinez for a header. Seen him sent off for less than that!
    • 12' Rafael is lucky to escape a booking for a late slide on Ander. Athletic play it short, moving down the right this time but De Marcos drills a shot well wide.
    • 11' Park robs a sloppy Ander and holds it up for support. However, Athletic are the kings of closing down and soon enough United have been forced back to the defence.
    • 10' Muniain on the move now, running at the defence as he loves to do, but a good challenge from Ferdinand to put behind for a corner. He left Rafael for dead there!
    • 9' A United attack breaks down as Cleverley's ball in from the right is headed half-clear by Amorebieta, Rooney can pick it up but Athletic clear. Now Cleverley comes again, running in the middle this time and he puts Young through but a superb saving tackle from Amorebieta!
    • 8' Carrick sends Park away down the left, Young supports him and crosses into the box but too close to Iraizoz as Rooney and Giggs arrived late.
    • 7' Here come Athletic again as Susaeta touches it inside before curling a shot, but it's blocked by Evans and spins into the arms of De Gea.
    • 6' Rooney once more on the left but he can't find space or support and has to look all the way back to Evans.
    • 5' Susaeta with a far-post corner and, despite there being little power with which to generate his header, Llorente manages to crash it on target, although it is cleared comfortably in the end by Rafael.
    • 4' Ander cuts inside and turns, wide to Susaeta, he feeds De Marcos brilliantly and a corner is won off Evra. All Athletic now!
    • 4' Aurtenetxe, the left-back, seems prime to take it.... No, he moves aside and Susaeta spins it over the wall, taking a deflection to fly inches wide! De Gea seemed to have it covered. Corner.
    • 3' Iraola with a cross that United clear, but then Carrick fouls Llorente a few yards short of the D. Free-kick, that was Rio's fault trying to play it out and putting Carrick in trouble.
    • 2' Susaeta on the move now but Ferdinand guides it behind for a goal kick, which De Gea takes short.
    • 1' Early half-chance for United as Rooney gets in down the left but he drags his cross-shot across the face of goal and away.
    • 1' The first half is underway at San Mames! Remember - United must win by two clear goals to qualify, or a 4-3+
    • 17:57 Some of your Twitter predictions... @Rajput__: "Bilbao gonna win 3:1, 2x Llorente and one from Muniain, Rooney to score for ManU" FOLLOW ON TWITTER!
    • 17:55 FACT courtesy of @AmirFazeli on Twitter: "Giggs breaks Maldini's record with 903 appearances" - true. Paolo Maldini made 902 competitive appearances for Milan, Giggs exceeds that for United. I think that is a one-club record, please correct me if not true. In terms of multiple clubs I know Javier Zanetti and Peter Shilton have beaten the 1000-game mark.
    • 17:50 Looking closely at the Athletic team and you must say it is very strong. Where they lack is depth - restricted by the Basque-only policy, bench players such as Perez, Ekiza and Ibai are realistically League One standard. But that starting XI has Spain internationals Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente - who IMO would walk into United's current team and prob City's too - plus exciting youngsters Muniain and Ander. With four or five more La Liga-level players they would challenge Valencia for 3rd.
    • 17:45 Tonight's referee is Cuneyt Cakir from Turkey.
    • 17:40 If you fancy getting in touch with me about this match, do so on Twitter @Reda_Eurosport. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO
    • 17:35 Call me ignorant, but those William Hill odds - which have shortened on a United win since yesterday - seem rather generous. Athletic are at home, at full-strength and already lead 3-2. If I was a betting man, I'd put a fiver on the Basques or a draw.
    • 17:30 MATCH ODDS: Athletic Bilbao 17/10, Manchester United 11/8, Draw 13/5
    • 17:25 Marcelo Bielsa: "The difference in points and finance is there for everyone to see. But I also believe that on one night or in one match a team like Athletic can get very close to the level of opponents such as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United. However, to maintain that throughout an entire league season is extremely difficult."
    • 17:20 Sir Alex Ferguson: "March has always proved an important month for us. Historically and in general it has been a good month. Now is the time you have to kick on. There's no looking back. It's about looking forward and trying to make sure you win all your games."
    • 17:15 United, meanwhile, are without Nani, Phil Jones and Anderson - who is likely out for the season - but they do welcome back Antonio Valencia from injury. The Ecuador winger starts from the bench though, with Paul Scholes also saved for the priority that is the weekend's Premier League trip to Wolves. Tom Cleverley gets a start, as does Ji-sung Park.
    • 17:10 Good news for Athletic is bad news for United - Fernando Llorente overcomes a hip problem to start alongside Iker Muniain, while beefy centre-half Fernando Amorebieta returns from suspension. Pretty much full-strength, with no place for ex-Liverpool defender Mikel San Jose. His replacement by Amorebieta is the only change from the XI that won 3-2 at Old Trafford.
    • 17:05 TEAMS - Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Martínez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Iturraspe, Ander, De Marcos, Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain; Subs: Subs: Raul, Toquero, San Jose, David Lopez, Inigo Perez, Ekiza, Ibai /// Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Park, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Young, Rooney; Subs: Subs: Amos, Smalling, Hernandez, Welbeck, Fabio Da
    • 17:00 Manchester United must turn around a 3-2 deficit against Athletic Bilbao in Spain's Basque region if they are to remain in the Europa League - LIVE at 6pm UK time.

  • Summary

    • 89' A long-range shot from Welbeck forces Iraizoz into a low save! Corner late on...
    • 84' DE MARCOS JUST WIDE! Evra gets taken out by a low Iraola ball, great touch from De Marcos and a fine low shot across goal but beyond the far post.
    • 80' GREAT GOAL BY ROONEY! Hobbling about on one leg he smashes a superb shot into the top right corner from 20 yards. 2-1 (but 5-3)!
    • 78' De Gea makes a smart save after Iraola slides De Marcos in, the winger getting beyond Evra but not the keeper.
    • 75' Blimey, if they can do this every Thursday I can see Athletic winning the Europa League. Toquero spots De Gea off his line and sends a lob just wide!
    • 74' Aurtenetxe again pops up on the right, cutting inside and unleashing Iraola, who plays over a superb cross AND TOQUERO MUST SCORE BUT HE HEADS IT JUST OVER!!
    • 72' Should have been three! Susaeta scooping his finish wide from 12 yards after a super run and low cross from Aurtenetxe.
    • 65' GOAL ATHLETIC! Game, set, match, tournament for United. Athletic are going through, United crash out of Europe - again. De Marcos with a deflected finish after Toquero's header spun up in the air off Smalling. 2-0, 5-2.
    • 57' Toquero shows why he was a lower-league player a few years ago by blasting over, really poor after he had been put in by Susaeta. A willing runner, not the best footballer.
    • 54' ALMOST AN INCREDIBLE GOAL FROM IRAOLA BUT HE PUTS IT WIDE! He beats three United players with a series of drag backs and shimmies but slid the left-foot finish inches wide! Would have been goal of the season! The right-back!!
    • 28' Hacked off the line by Amorebieta as Giggs flies in! United really having a go no!
    • 26' United respond with a sustained assault on the Athletic final third, Young with a superb cross AND GIGGS WITH A FREE-HEADER but a superb block by Aurtenetxe I think!
    • 23' GOAL ATHLETIC BILBAO! LLORENTE WITH A STUNNING VOLLEY! Van Basten-like volley over the shoulder after a 40-yard ball from Aurtenetxe! Ooooh I could watch that all day! (Correction - assist was Amorebieta long ball)
    • 14' TERRIBLE MISS BY DE MARCOS! Athletic carve United apart as Martinez slides it in, Llorente with a super flick to play Muniain clean through but he hits the post - and, with the goal at his mercy, De Marcos fluffs the finish embarassingly high and wide.
    • 9' A United attack breaks down as Cleverley's ball in from the right is headed half-clear by Amorebieta, Rooney can pick it up but Athletic clear. Now Cleverley comes again, running in the middle this time and he puts Young through but a superb saving tackle from Amorebieta!
    • 4' Aurtenetxe, the left-back, seems prime to take it.... No, he moves aside and Susaeta spins it over the wall, taking a deflection to fly inches wide! De Gea seemed to have it covered. Corner.
    • 17:05 TEAMS - Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Martínez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Iturraspe, Ander, De Marcos, Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain; Subs: Subs: Raul, Toquero, San Jose, David Lopez, Inigo Perez, Ekiza, Ibai /// Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Park, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Young, Rooney; Subs: Subs: Amos, Smalling, Hernandez, Welbeck, Fabio Da

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.8 7
      Defenders
      7.4 7
      8.1 8
      7.3 7
      7.4 7
      Midfielders
      7.5 7
      Substitution Out82′ 7.6 6
      Goal 8 8
      Strikers
      Yellow Card 7.6 7
      Substitution Out88′ 8.2 7
      Goal Substitution Out40′ 8.3 7
      Subs
      Substitution In88′ 7.2 6
      Substitution In40′ 7.2 7
      Substitution In82′ 7.8 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.1 6
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 3.5 5
      3.7 6
      Substitution Out63′ 3.8 6
      3.4 5
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out64′ 3.5 6
      3.3 6
      4 6
      Strikers
      4.1 5
      Substitution Out68′ 4.1 6
      Goal 4.9 6
      Subs
      Substitution In68′ 3 6
      Substitution In63′ 2.8 6
      Substitution In64′ Yellow Card 2.9 6

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