The UEFA Europa League is one of the most prestigious and competitive football competitions in Europe. It consists of four groups and each team plays two games against other teams from its group to determine the winner. The winner advances to the next round where they face the winners of the second and third places. In this article, we will discuss how Athletic Bilbao's journey through qualifying for the Europa League and facing Ligue 1 in the round of 16.
Qualifying as Group Runner-Up
Athletic Bilbao started their qualifying campaign by qualifying for the group stage of the Europa League. They were drawn into a group with Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid. Despite being drawn together, Athletic Bilbao had a tough start to the season. They lost both of their first two matches in the group stages before coming back to win all three of their remaining matches. This performance helped them secure qualification for the Europa League.
Facing Ligue 1 in the Round of 16
After qualifying for the Europa League, Athletic Bilbao faced Ligue 1 in the round of 16. They were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain, who had already qualified for the Europa League. However, Athletic Bilbao was not able to overcome the pressure of playing in front of a packed stadium and lost the match 2-1. The loss meant that Athletic Bilbao would have to wait until the end of the season to face their rivals again.
Conclusion
Overall, the UEFA Europa League has been a challenging competition for Athletic Bilbao. Their qualification for the Europa League came after struggling at home in the previous seasons, but they managed to secure a spot in the round of 16 despite the pressure of playing in front of a packed stadium. The round of 16 matchup against Paris Saint-Germain was a test of their resilience and determination, but unfortunately, it did not go as planned. Nonetheless, Athletic Bilbao has shown great resilience and determination throughout the season, and they look set to continue making waves in European football.