Europa League: Schalke 2-4 Athletic Bilbao: Basques Bamboozle Shocked Schalke In Six-Goal Thriller (Photos & Highlights)

Alan Duffy

29th, March 2012

5 Comments

By Alan Duffy

Schalke 2-4 Athletic Bilbao – Europa League – 29th March 2012


After thoroughly outplaying Manchester United at Old Trafford but only coming away with a 3-2 victory, in-form Spaniards Athletic Bilbao spent much of Thursday’s night Europa League clash in Schalke getting the runaround from the home side, but still managed to come away with a 4-2 smash and grab victory.

Two generations of Spanish international strikers stole the show at the Veltins-Arena, with both Raul and Fernando ‘two Ls’ Llorente bagging a brace each.

Strapping striker Llorente opened ths scoring on 20 minutes, but only two minutes later, former Real Madrid legend Raul levelled the scores as the Germans started to dominate proceedings. Still, it took them until the hour mark to find another goal, again courtesy of Raul with a superb left-foot volley.

However, Bilbao rallied and Llorente levelled the scores on 71 minutes with header. The Spaniards then started to threaten more and more on the break against an increasingly frustrated Schalke side, with sub Oscar De Marcos and the superb Iker Muniain eventually putting the game out of reach for Schalke.

Overall, a 4-2 scoreline was harsh on the home side, who face a massive uphill task now if they are to progress to the last four ahead of Marcelo Bielsa’s gifted Basque side.

Photos…

Highlights to follow…

Photos: PA

Posted in Europa League, Photos, Videos

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5 Comments

  1. Jarren says:

    Was a great match, Schalke did deserve a draw but this Bilbao team are simply tremendous.

    How a team built from home-grown players have managed to thump their way to the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup* is unbelievable.

    And you know, they might actually win the thing.

    The more I see of them the less I am confused at how they hammered us at Old Trafford.

    Fair play to them.

    *I live in 1995

  2. King George says:

    For non spanish speakers his name is pronounced Yor-ren-te. double L makes a y sound.

  3. King George says:

    @ Jarren Athletic Bilbao have the 2nd most amount of Copa del Rey’s in Spain. Only Barcelona has more. They also have the 4th most amount of La Liga’s too.

  4. Alex says:

    Come on now, Bilbao were not outplayed. They never ran out of ideas. Shalke looked very ordinary, they may have created more chances but they weren’t significant chances.

  5. Jarren says:

    @King George: I apologise for my ignorance.

    I have known of Athletic Bilbao for many years, but not of their domestic achievements.

    2nd amount of Copa del Rey & 4th amount of league titles is mightily impressive.

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