The Lions of Basque Country - Athletic Bilbao FIFA 14

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Copa del Rey - Semifinals - 1st leg

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ATLETICO MADRID 4 - ATHLETIC BILBAO 2

These 2 clubs played out a scoreless draw in their league encounter earlier this year. Today's match would be the complete opposite, a 6 goal thriller. Munian would tap in a spilled shot by Susaeta in the 32nd followed shortly by Susaeta in the 37th who would beat Courtois near-post to give the visitors a shock lead. Adrian would score in the 44th to cut the lead to 1 before HT. Substitute David Villa's header across goal in the 57th would equalize while Diego Costa's thunderous right footed shot would give them the lead. He would add another before the final whistle to give them the 4-2 lead.



Up next: Valladolid

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ROUND 19

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ATHLETIC BILBAO 1 - VALLADOLID 0

4 wins out of 4 for the side from Basque as they dispatched of Valladolid in what was a strenuous week. "3 matches in 7 days is tough for any club, but especially a smaller side like ourselves" said RB Iraola. With a Monday trip to rivals Sociedad looming the boys from San Mammes knew 3 points was vital. Due to a congested fixture list Manager Fuerte decided to rotate the squad giving young Inaki Williams his first ever league start and the youngster repaid him with a 13th minute goal via a Carazo cross, "Inaki has played well in the cup matches but let's not forget the cross delivered by Carazo. It was quality." said Fuerte.


Up next: @ Real Sociedad

[Qb]

More lashing out, please! And what about a league table update...

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Quote: Originally Posted by Qb

More lashing out, please! And what about a league table update...

I was planning on doing one every 6 games but then I got in a groove. I'll get caught up tonight to where I am (about 4 games behind + the end of the January Transfer Window).

I'll update the table, league stats, team news, and of course the transfer activity around La Liga.

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BASQUE DERBY DAY!

The Anoeta hosts the 133rd Basque Derby tonight as hosts Real Sociedad look to overtake their neighbors Athletic Bilbao. Both clubs come into the contest not at full strength with Bilbao down 2 attacking midfielders in De Marcos & Ander Herrera while Sociedad will be without FW Carlos Vela. Rumours around Basque country have also spread that young French playmaker Antoine Griezman who has handed in his transfer papers. A product of San Sebastian it's rumored that he could potentially make a cross-town switch as he does comply with the cantera policy. Making matters more interested, Bilbao Manager Carlos Fuerte claimed Sociedad has a "small club" mentality in their press-conference ahead of today's clash, "They are good a club but what we're doing and building at Athletic certainly cements our status as big brother. We will go out and impose our will despite playing away from home." said Fuerte

Basque Derby League History:

Team Played Victories Draws Losses Goals for Goals Against
Athletic Club 132 55 32 45 225 182
Real Sociedad 132 45 32 55 182 225


Onto the game:

The visitors might have been down some creative talent but they looked the livelier of the two squads as Sociedad keeper Claudio Bravo was called into action by a powerful header by Aduriz. 5 minutes later it was Athletic's CDM Mikel Rico who tested Bravo again through the air. His header fell wide to the feet of Benat whose effort hit the side-netting. Against the run-of-play it was Sociedad who took the early lead behind some sloppy defending which culminated into Balenzgia deflecting the ball into his own net. Earlier in the year Bilbao might have hung their heads but with the club playing with supreme confidence they regrouped during the intermission and came out swinging when in the 51st Aduriz's clever dummy left the Sociedad CB stumbling and instead of wasting the chance Aduriz's shot hit the bottom of the crossbar and went in. Fast-forward to the 71st and it was Munian on the counter whose cross found Ibai Gomez who managed to get some separation in the box. His header was perfect in its placement and power. Bilbao put the brakes on for the rest of the match and coasted to a 2-1 lead.



Up next: Atletico Madrid - Copa del Rey Round of 8, 2nd leg

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Copa del Rey - Semifinals - 2nd leg

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ATLETICO MADRID 2 - ATHLETIC BILBAO 0

With a congested fixture list Manager Fuerte knew it was going to be an uphill battle facing top league side Atletico Madrid in the 2nd leg of the Copa del Rey, "Look, we have a lot of tired players and we know it will take a Herculean effort to advance but our boys are a game bunch. The fixture gods have dealt us a bad hand but it's up to us to play it out."

Unfortunately a squad consisting of several young players couldn't get it done tonight as Atletico sent the Lions home packing in the round of 8. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. We played hard but Atletico were the better squad over the 2 legs. We get them in March on our turf. We'll be looking forward to that game."



Up next: @ Osasuna

Semifinals matchups:

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News on the transfer front:

Real Sociedad have informed Athletic Bilbao that they have zero interest in letting Antoine Griezmann join our squad



Athletic Bilbao approached Real Madrid about 2 Basque players, Illarramendi & Xabi Alonso. They were promptly told "go f yaself by Real Madrid"

Bilbao granted an additional 400k in transfer funds for reaching the round of 16.

FC Mainz approached Bilbao for CF Aduriz and offered 4 million, which is 1.2 million above his value. Bilbao has/had no interest in selling the player but countered with 5 million. They offer was pulled.

Bilbao has targeted Olympique Lyon CF Zakarie Labidi. He's said to have some Basque roots in his family tree

ST Mario Barco has been loaned out to Derby County of the English Championship

Players promoted from the youth squad:

CB/CDM Bento Henriques (French)
LB - Diego Gonzales (Spanish)
LM - Mario Diaz (Spanish)
LM - Patricio Estrada (Spanish)
CDM - Juan Guerra (Spanish)

Youth Academy Players:

CM - Andres Castillo (15)
CM - Carlos Alberto (15)
CM/RM - Pablo Escobar (16)

Pablo (no relation to the real Pablo Escobar) will most likely be called up shortly.

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OSASUNA 0 - ATHLETIC BILBAO 2

That's 6 straight wins in the league for you folks counting at home after today's 2-0 dispatching of Osasuna in the pouring rain. A 40th minute tap-in by ST Toquero and a 65th minute strike by Ibai Gomez were enough to see the visitors through. Manager Fuerte deployed a 4-4-2 formation with 2 physical STs to take advantage of a smaller CB pairing by Osasuna, "I thought we could bully them a little bit in the air but it was really the hold-up play by Aduriz and the determination by Toquero that made us click today. Toquero specifically was awesome. Our ST's have really been on a good run of form as of late. Not just goal scoring either, their overall play has been excellent." There was a bit of sad news as CM Benat was lost for 3 months with an LCL tear. He is the 3rd Bilbao CM to miss significant time this year.



Up next: Home to Espanyol