Video Library: Historic night towards a European final

Today, among the videos available in our official Youtube channel, we stop at one of the magical nights that Athletic Club and its supporters lived on April 26, 2012 at San Mamés. Athletic won 3-1 against Sporting of Portugal and obtained a place in the final of the UEFA Europa League. A continental final after 35 years without achieving a similar goal.

Athletic faced the second leg of the semi-finals after losing 2-1 at Jose Alvalade, with Aurtenetxe as the red-and-white goal scorer. A goal that, after seeing the second match between Athletic and the Portuguese team, was decisive.

The match played at The Cathedral had a frenetic rhythm, with Athletic looking for the victory from the first minute, knowing the disadvantage with which they started the play-offs at the beginning of the match. Susaeta scored around a quarter of an hour of the first half, before Van Wolfswinkel drew in the last part of the first half. It was Ibai Gómez who broke the tie again before the half.

With the tie (3-3 on aggregate) and on the way to what seemed like inevitable extra time, came the play that every Athletic fan remembers. Ibai Gómez centered for Fernando Llorente, just on the minute 88, and he beat Rui Patricio to make it 3-1 for Athletic to qualify for the final of the UEFA Europa League for the 2011-12 season.

The Athletic Club – Sporting CP line-ups were as follows:

Athletic Club: 1. Iraizoz, 15. Iraola, 24. Javi Martínez, 5. Amorebieta, 3. Aurtenetxe, 8. Iturraspe, 21. Ander Herrera, 19. Muniain, 14. Susaeta, 28. Ibai, 9. Llorente.

Substitutes: 23. Ekiza, 2. Toquero, 17. Iñigo Pérez.

Sporting CP: 1. Rui Patricio, 4. Polga, 47. Joào Pereira, 48. Insúa, 93. Xandao, 8. Schaars, 11. Capel, 14. Fernández, 25. Pereirinha, 28. André Martins, 9. Van Wolfswinkel.

Substitutes: 3. Daniel Carriço, 17. Jeffren, 18. Carrillo.