Updated:2025-09-22 07:40 Views:69
The rise and fall of Athletic Bilbao in Spanish football has been nothing short of dramatic, from qualifying for Europe's Premier Division to facing fierce challenges in the Ligue 1 Champions' Cup quarter-finals.
In May 2020, Athletic Bilbao secured their place in Europe's top flight by winning the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid. This was a significant achievement as it marked the first time that an西甲球队在欧战中获得了冠军。However, it wasn't enough to secure their spot in Europe's top tier.
The next season saw the club struggle with injuries and poor form, which led to a disappointing result. Despite this setback, they managed to qualify for the Europa League group stage, where they faced a tough challenge from fellow relegation candidates Valencia CF.
The following season saw Athletic Bilbao again struggle with injuries and poor form, leading to another disappointing result. However, they still managed to qualify for the Europa League group stage, where they faced a tough challenge from fellow relegation candidates Real Sociedad.
In the end, the club struggled throughout the season, losing several important matches and missing out on a chance to advance further. The team was also involved in some controversy, including the controversial decision to sell key players like Javier Mascherano and David Alaba.
Despite these setbacks, Athletic Bilbao remained determined to fight for promotion back to the top flight. They made several signings during the summer transfer window, including new signing Diego Simeone, who had previously played for Real Betis.
On September 15, 2021, Athletic Bilbao defeated Real Sociedad 2-1 in the UEFA Europa League final to win their first ever Europa League trophy. The victory was a major boost for the club, as it meant they were now guaranteed a spot in the next edition of the competition.
The journey to the Europa League final was not without its challenges, however. Despite being one step away from promotion, Athletic Bilbao faced some stiff opposition in the competition. Their opponents included Manchester United, who had won the Premier League earlier in the season.
Despite the challenges, Athletic Bilbao continued to perform well throughout the tournament. They drew their first match of the season against FC Porto, before defeating them 4-0 at home.
After their first-round defeat, Athletic Bilbao went on to face Liverpool in the second round. They were once again held to two goals by Jurgen Klopp's side, but came back from behind to win 3-2 in extra-time.
In the semi-final, Athletic Bilbao faced Barcelona, who they had beaten twice in the previous season. The match ended in a goalless draw after extra time, and the winner was announced as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, who scored the only goal of the match.
With the Europa League title in hand, Athletic Bilbao qualified for the next round of the competition, where they would face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. They were once again held to a goalless draw, and the winner was announced as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, who scored the last goal of the match.
The final was a close game, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. In the end, Ronaldo scored the winning goal in injury-time, and the team celebrated their success.
In conclusion, Athletic Bilbao's ascent to Europe's top flight has been a remarkable story of perseverance and determination. With the Europa League title in hand, the club is set to compete in the next edition of the competition, hoping to continue their impressive run of form.