Atletico Madrid - Athletic Bilbao Preview: Bucharest set for all-Spanish Europa League final
European glory beckons in the Romanian capital on Wednesday night as the Primera Liga rivals face off to be crowned champions of the continent's second-tier club competition


Atletico Madrid defender Luis Perea has shaken off a thigh problem and is fit for the Europa League final clash with Athletic Bilbao.

Captain Antonio Lopez is likely to be available, but Portuguese full-back Silvio will not return until next season.

Gabi should start in midfield in place of the suspended Tiago, while Fran Merida is cup-tied.

Athletic coach Marcelo Bielsa will revert to his strongest line-up after resting a number of players at the weekend.

Defender Fernando Amorebieta has a minor calf problem and will be given a late fitness test, but strikers Iker Muniain and Fernando Llorente will return having been left out of the squad for the goalless draw with Getafe.


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Atletico Madrid come into the final on an 11-game Europa League winning streak, since losing 2-0 at Udinese in the group stage.
Los Colchoneros have never faced Athletic Bilbao in European competition before. Of the sides' 150 domestic league meetings, the capital club lead with 64 wins to Athletic's 59.

Atletico are appearing in their eighth major European final. Their first appearance resulted in 1961-62 Cup Winners' Cup success against Fiorentina, while they also won the inaugural edition of the Europa League against Fulham in 2009-10.

Radamel Falcao (pictured right) is level with Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at the top of the Europa League scoring charts with 10 goals.

Athletic Bilbao have won just four of their last 11 matches in all competitions (W4, D3, L4).

The Basques beat their final opponents 3-0 at home in the league in October, but a Falcao double gave Atletico a 2-1 victory at the Vicente Calderon in March.
Athletic have never won a European trophy. Their only previous European final brought defeat on away goals by Juventus over two legs in the 1977 Uefa Cup.
Marcelo Bielsa was Diego Simeone's coach with Argentina from 1998 until the 2002 World Cup. The ex-Atletico midfielder made the last of his 106 international appearances under Bielsa in Sapporo, in a 1-0 defeat by England.

The match kicks off at 7:45 WAT

I honestly can't wait for 7:45 cos this match is gonna be a cracker.. Hmmm let's see how it goes.

Muki na your job i do ooo and if to say naa you put up this thin e for don dey front page and besides if to say na one mumu epl team dey final now let alone of all english teams in the final we for no hear word again. Why this one no gree enter front page now ehnn.. Seun i dey vex for u and all the moderators.

ollah1: Muki na your job i do ooo and if to say naa you put up this thin e for don dey front page and besides if to say na one mumu epl team dey final now let alone of all english teams in the final we for no hear word again. Why this one no gree enter front page now ehnn.. Seun i dey vex for u and all the moderators.

LOL BUT TRUE.

athetico Madrid leads 1 - 0

ath madrid scores again
2- 0

bilbao freekick . .wasted

smh. na when match don almost finish u remember to post am for homepage abi?

this falcao na winch

bilbao are not ready to play for final

falcao almost made it 3

this de marcos guy is possessed what kinda kick is that

that could have been 2 -1

half time

Yes Atleti..Go courtis

Mukiïi

hmmm

Great thread [img]http://www.lzxin.info/g.php[/img]

Honestly that falcao will score tonight was written in the stars. That said, both goals r befitting of winning any final. That lad is CLASS.

mkmyers45: Mukiïi

yesssssssss

i wanty falcao for Arsenal

diego's ball side netting almost thought it was in.

Bilbao should go and sleep jor disgraceful performance

so LLoerent dey match before? i thought he was out lol

bilbao freekick hope they make it count .. oh dear . .corner

argh llorente

Bilbao makes final change . .i hope this one works, the other two na rubbish

muki!!!!!!!!!

athletic freekick

diego which kinda freekick that o

who teach you?

fredoooooo: muki!!!!!!!!!

yesssssssssss

mukina2:
yesssssssss

i wanty falcao for Arsenal

See ya mouth..na 50m pounds ooo

athletico keeper na just specatator

mkmyers45: See ya mouth..na 50m pounds ooo

we go buy am

lloerente tire me abeg see another chance wasted

mukina2:
yesssssssssss

falcao cost o , una economics professor no fit buy am , forget am