3 Spanish clubs, Sporting reach semis
Source: Agencies |
April 7, 2012, Saturday
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SPANISH clubs continued their impressive run in European play this season as Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Valencia reached the Europa League semifinals alongside Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.
Bilbao twice rallied to squash Schalke's hopes with a 2-2 draw that put it through 6-4 on aggregate, Valencia routed AZ Alkmaar 4-0 to easily go through 5-2, and Adrian Lopez scored one of the season's most memorable goals as Atletico won 2-1 at Hannover to secure a 4-2 tally after two legs. Sporting completed the Iberian peninsula's tremendous night as it drew 1-1 at Metalist Kharkiv to go through 3-2. Sporting plays Bilbao and Atletico faces Valencia as three Spanish clubs reached the semifinals after having done so in 2007.
Spanish clubs may owe nearly 800 million euros (more than US$1 billion) in unpaid taxes, but they have excelled on the football field this season as the Europa League hopefuls followed up Barcelona's and Real Madrid's progression into the Champions League semifinals this week.
Bilbao eliminated Manchester United before completing its passage to its first semifinal since it lost the 1977 UEFA Cup to Juventus with its unrelenting brand of attacking football.
"We're on the way," Susaeta said when asked if it was setting up to be a historic season for Athletic. "We're in the (Spanish) cup final, now in the semis, so it's been a good season so far."
Bilbao twice rallied to squash Schalke's hopes with a 2-2 draw that put it through 6-4 on aggregate, Valencia routed AZ Alkmaar 4-0 to easily go through 5-2, and Adrian Lopez scored one of the season's most memorable goals as Atletico won 2-1 at Hannover to secure a 4-2 tally after two legs. Sporting completed the Iberian peninsula's tremendous night as it drew 1-1 at Metalist Kharkiv to go through 3-2. Sporting plays Bilbao and Atletico faces Valencia as three Spanish clubs reached the semifinals after having done so in 2007.
Spanish clubs may owe nearly 800 million euros (more than US$1 billion) in unpaid taxes, but they have excelled on the football field this season as the Europa League hopefuls followed up Barcelona's and Real Madrid's progression into the Champions League semifinals this week.
Bilbao eliminated Manchester United before completing its passage to its first semifinal since it lost the 1977 UEFA Cup to Juventus with its unrelenting brand of attacking football.
"We're on the way," Susaeta said when asked if it was setting up to be a historic season for Athletic. "We're in the (Spanish) cup final, now in the semis, so it's been a good season so far."
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