To the UEFA

Athletic Club will dispute the next edition of the UEFA Cup. The victory in Pamplona, together with Atlético Madrid’s defeat against Zaragoza, has made possible the classification to be in Europe next season, precisely one match day before the championship ends. Athletic Club has done what it had to do in Iruñea: to win the match (1-2) and wait from the fifth seat. In the first half the dynamics of the game have foretold the better news, but the referee has chosen to annul two legal goals by Yeste and Ezquerro; and that is why the verdict has not arrived until the start of the second half when Yeste, from a foul, and Urzaiz, from a header, have placed a forceful 0-2. In spite of the hardships in the final moments -with goal by Valdo and an occasion by Bakayoko-, the victory has not escaped. The best was yet to come. With sight towards the last match, in which a draw would be enough to return to European competitions, the good news came from Madrid and the euphoria has extended from the locker rooms to the bus and from there to all the red-and-white family. Athletic is going to UEFA after two seasons with honey on their lips; a beautiful profit with former-president Javier Uria in everyone’s memory.