Athletic Bilbao? Absolutely fantastic football. In all honesty they are superb and are battering the Premierships best side and they are all local kids. The only thing they lack is a goalscorer or they would be 4 or 5 up in tonight's game.
Listening to it on Radio 5, Man United have an uphill task to get through. Bilbao deservedly in front.
2-0 now, but the 2nd goal actually changes very little. Man U still need 3 by the end of 90 minutes just like they did before the 2nd goal.
Bilboa have been fantastic and United have been well and truely battered over two matches. Good atmosphere as well.
will the premier league clubs dismal displays in europe this season mean them losing a place in the Champions league - they currently have 4+1 and to be honest i dont see how after this seasons performances they can justify keeping out other more deserving teams/leagues. how often is this decided ?
If you can get to see the highlights look out for the first goal, just like the RVP volley for Spit Town earlier in the season.
If it continues over the next few seasons then maybe. I think it'll be put down to a blip, as we've had alot of clubs doing well recently in Europe, and getting to the latter stages most seasons. UEFA might keep it to four due to the amount of money it'll bring in. The top 4 from the premier league are usually big draw on the continent and it'll pack the punters in. We'll see what happens next year.
The rankings are redone at the end of every season, but like the FIFA rankings (that are done every month) it's based on performances over a number of years. In order to drop from 3+1 to 3 places I think they need to drop down to being the 4th highest ranked league in Europe though, so find 3 leagues with more representation at this stage and beyond in say the last 4 years (including this one).
Quality fans the Basques. Rooney just scored a peach and they are applauding him. They play in Red and White stripes after they were given some Sunderland shirts by a group of Mackems donkey's years ago.
They applauded Giggs off too, though I suppose it's easy to be magnanimous if you're stuffing the opposition. And they did stuff the opposition.
It has been dismal, but of the last 8 clubs, 7 countries have one club remaining and only Spain have two clubs. So I'm not sure we would or should lose a place. It's refreshing to see so many countries still represented.
Southampton it was but there is a Sunderland connection with the old mining community, they were donated Southampton shirts and took their colours though you could equally say they were Sunderlands too.
