The Lions head to Dortmund

The journey to Dortmund begins, a journey filled with excitement. Eleven years and almost two months after Athletic Club's last Champions League away day, a match that Ernesto Valverde's then side won 0-1 against Shaktar Donetsk in Lviv, the Lions set off for their first European outing.

Almost 4,000 Athleticzales will travel to the German football city to visit the historic Signal Iduna Park, where the Yellow Wall awaits.

The Rojiblancos fans will certainly create a fantastic atmosphere, leaving their mark as they have done in previous major continental fixtures.

This is not just any outing. The Athletic Club travelling party, which will leave Bilbao Airport at 15:30 CEST, includes not only the first team, accompanied by Jose Angel Iribar and President Jon Uriarte, but our Under-19s side.

The youngsters will face BVB in the Youth League at 16:00, five hours before the Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, and will be hoping to back-up the good start which saw us beat Arsenal FC at Lezama.

Between both matches, we have the Foundation's initiatives. Our fan-led Walking Football team, captained by Carlos Gurpegui, will face a similar side put together by BVB. Afterwards, they'll plant an oak tree, with the idea of sowing the seeds of lasting friendship between the two clubs.

No doubt, it will be a great 48 hours for Athletic Club in the cold German weather.