In the first leg of the Europa League last 16 clash between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao the Basque’s came away with an impressive win.
From the start it was obvious that the The “lions” of Marcelo Bielsa, wearing the colors of their away kit ikurriña were not going to be intimidated by the stage, and displayed attacking football that its fans have become accustomed to this season.
Llorente was the main reference in the attack for Bilbao, flanked by Muniain and Markel Susaeta, and De Marcos play in the center of the pitch.
After the first fifteen minutes in which the Athletic intimidated the “Red Devils” with its thrust, the s pace of the game slowed down a bit.
The visitors continued to take the lead and triangulating the area of three quarters, while the united players were comfortable just ignoring the ball and waiting patiently in their own half, knowing that with their speed in the counterattack would be how they would score.
The opening goal came on 22 minutes with the veteran Ryan Giggs, 38, driving the ball up inside the Basque area to be left for Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.
The little Mexican made a cut at the back post and fired a shot that the goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz who managed to stop the ball with one hand.
Wayne Rooney however was lurking in the small area and only had to side-foot the ball into the net for the game’s opening goal.
Bilbao never gave up constantly attacking the United goal, and scoring just before the break thanks to the head of Llorente.
If United had thought they were facing a mediocre team sitting 5th in the Spanish League, they were sadly mistaken as the Basques, to the joy of their 8,000 traveling supporters took the game to United fiercely attacking De Gea’s goal.
The style of the Bilbao attack was beautiful to watch with their quick intricate passing of the ball it was not long before they scored again when Herrera lofted the ball over the United defense for Oscar De Marcos to volley home.
Now 2-1 up with a couple of away goals in the bank the visitors continued attacking hungry for more, which they got due to a lack of concentration by Rafael who did not react quick enough when De Gea blocked a hard shot from De Marcos allowing Iker Munian to slide the ball into the net.
One last chance for United came when they got a penalty thanks to a De Marcos hand ball, which Rooney fired home from the spot.
Final score 3-2 to Bilbao.
Man of the match for me was David De Gea , who but for his good goalkeeping United would be traveling to Spain with much more than a one goal defficite to make up.
