Athletic Bilbao have really struggled since the Manchester United wins, seems like they are "doing a Napoli" which they get up for the big games but can't even beat Sporting Gijon at home. Schalke are in good form, at times score goals for fun, if they get a big lead going into the second leg they will advance.
Metalist Kharkiv are one of these teams who always make a deep run in the Europa League but still relative unknowns, a team filled with South American players, could surprise Sporting Lisbon
Athletic Bilbao have really struggled since the Manchester United wins, seems like they are "doing a Napoli" which they get up for the big games but can't even beat Sporting Gijon at home. Schalke are in good form, at times score goals for fun, if they get a big lead going into the second leg they will advance.
Metalist Kharkiv are one of these teams who always make a deep run in the Europa League but still relative unknowns, a team filled with South American players, could surprise Sporting Lisbon
They absolutely dominated that game, but could only push one across and gave up a late goal (which seems to be a trend).
was soo looking forward to the bilbao matches, now it turns out I probably can't watch either I think though Bilbao will go through with relative ease... they looked terrible when I watched my first ever bilbao game against gijon at the weekend, but I heard they're playing a high-pressing game? S04 can't cope with that in the slightest. They're gonna need a 2 or 3 to 0 cushion after the first leg to go through.
That said, Schalke vs Bilbao is certainly the biggest of the quarterfinal matchups
was soo looking forward to the bilbao matches, now it turns out I probably can't watch either I think though Bilbao will go through with relative ease... they looked terrible when I watched my first ever bilbao game against gijon at the weekend, but I heard they're playing a high-pressing game? S04 can't cope with that in the slightest. They're gonna need a 2 or 3 to 0 cushion after the first leg to go through.
That said, Schalke vs Bilbao is certainly the biggest of the quarterfinal matchups
Bilbao always presses. And it costs them sometimes late in games because they continue to attack until the end.
You thought Bilbao played terribly on Sunday? They dominated possession and dominated the flow of the game, but couldn't finish. In the end, it cost them 2 points. Their finishing was awful, I'll give you that.
Okay, I have to admit that I only got the first half and the first bit of the 2nd. And in that period, they didn't impress me... especially with their sloppiness, a gigh number of turnovers, which Gijon (sp?) didn't take advantage of, but a good team will... Also, I don't think they created too many good chances, plus were gifted a penalty and missed it too (not that it means anything).
So yeah, their turnover rate especially early surprised me, but of course I don't expect that to be normal.
Second half was better, I'll give you that. I was listening to a Spanish broadcast, so I may be off here, but I believe the possession for the game in the 88th minute or so was 60-40 in favor of Bilbao. So, they controlled the ball extremely well in the 2nd half....save for not scoring and the collapse late.
Schalke had some tremendous chances all game, particularly in the second half (Farfan's rocket, Huntelaar's post, Raul's chances).
Athletic somehow found an amazing 2nd wind because from the 55th to the 70th minute, Schalke was dominating and shredding Bilbao and it was looking like only a matter of time before they added another goal.
I think though Bilbao will go through with relative ease... they looked terrible when I watched my first ever bilbao game against gijon at the weekend, but I heard they're playing a high-pressing game? S04 can't cope with that in the slightest. They're gonna need a 2 or 3 to 0 cushion after the first leg to go through.
Got their away goal, somehow
