Benzema Goals Beat Bilbao

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Karim Benzema scored twice to give Real Madrid a 2-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao and lifted them to the top of La Liga on goal difference ahead of Celta Vigo,

The Frenchman took full advantage of a poor backpass by Mikel San José and fired home to put Real ahead after 19 minutes.

Bilbao showed typical fighting spirit and a fine diving header from Sabin Merino ended Real keeper Keylor Navas’ record unbeaten start to the season after 67 minutes, but they were only level for three minutes.

Benzema, a threat all night to the Athletic rearguard, was quickest to an Isco cross and knocked it in from close range.

Barcelona suffered their biggest La Liga defeat under Luis Enrique as Celta Vigo ended the champions' 100% record in the league this season.

Former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas scored twice after Nolito opened the scoring against his former club.

Neymar pulled one back for Barca with 10 minutes remaining, before ex-Manchester City and Stoke striker John Guidetti netted a fourth for the hosts.

Barcelona had lost only one of their previous 25 matches in La Liga.

The victory had taken Celta briefly top of the table, but Real Madrid replaced them after beating Bilbao the follwing day.

Barca boss Luis Enrique, said: "What decided this game is how well Celta played. It was highly effective football from them. It was very good.

"We tried to create problems, but we suffered a lot in one-on-one situations. When a team has played better than you, then there is nothing much that you can say.

"I'd rather lose to a team that plays like Celta did today, without any tricks, purely winning through their football. I congratulate them and hope they can carry on playing like that."

It was the third time Barca have conceded four goals in just nine games this season having been thrashed 4-0 by Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup and beaten Sevilla 5-4 in the Uefa Super Cup.

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Bilbao Beat Barca in Camp Nou

Athletic Bilbao won a first trophy in 31 years as a 1-1 draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp secured the Spanish Super Cup with a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Bilbao won the first leg 4-0 but Barcelona threatened a comeback with Lionel Messi's close-range finish.

Barca defender Gerard Pique was sent-off after the break and Aritz Aduriz struck late on to seal it for Bilbao.

The visitors had Kike Sola sent-off late on, but the celebrations for Bilbao had already begun.

It was ultimately a disappointing display for Barcelona who, despite plenty of possession, failed to threaten often enough.

After Barcelona's humiliating defeat in the first leg, Athletic Bilbao knew Luis Enrique's side would be determined to make amends.

The reigning European champions lined up with Messi, Luis Suarez and Pedro in attack but the visitors had done their homework and the trio were well marshalled throughout.

Whenever Messi had the ball, at least two players crowded round the Argentina international and his inability to get into the game left Suarez isolated.

Pedro's swan song?

Pedro, a reported target for Manchester United, had Barcelona's better opportunities in the opening stages but was unable to make them count.

The forward was full of running but his finishing let him down when it mattered, most notably when he missed the ball completely when a corner routine was worked to him on the edge of the area in the first half.

Pedro failed to find the target with another chance after the break and was eventually replaced in the 68th minute.

Enrique heads into the new season with some concerns at the back. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was named on the bench after conceding eight goals in his last two games, with Chile international Claudio Bravo starting in his place.

Barcelona's attacking intent often left them exposed at the back, and any hopes of getting the goals they needed ended when Pique was needlessly sent-off midway through the second half. The defender angrily remonstrated with the linesman and the referee produced a straight red.

After a brief spell of Barca dominance, Jeremy Mathieu gifted possession to Aduriz, leaving the forward one-on-one with Bravo and, after his initial effort was saved, Aduriz side-footed home the rebound to put the game beyond Barcelona.

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Bielsa Resigns from Athletic - Reports

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Reports in Spain suggest that Athletic Bilbao manager Marcelo Bielsa has resigned after the club failed to support him over an altercation with construction staff.

Bielsa returned for pre-season training ahead of the 2012-13 season to find the club's Lezama training centre resembling a construction site and was involved in a furious row with construction staff.

"The condition of Lezama is an insult to the players and I am responsible for them," Bielsa explained. "I was indignant because that was not recognised and began to say offensive things. I don't respect him because he did a bad job."

Athletic, though, were quick to issue a statement and distance themselves from the Argentine manager's statement, insisting works had been conducted in a satisfactory manner.

"Athletic Bilbao do not share the personal and subjective opinion expressed by Marcelo Bielsa in [Thursday's] press conference with regards to the construction work, the extent to which the contract has been honoured and the professionalism of the people involved," a club statement read.

"We would like to state that the works contract has been fulfilled correctly up until the current date, so we would like to publicly apologise for any damage that the comments made by an employee of this club may have caused to the construction company and its workers."

Bielsa led Athletic to the Europa League final in his first season at the San Mames in 2011-12, winning plaudits for his side's performances along the way. Now, though, he looks set to depart after just one season at the Basque outfit.

Pep Adds Copa to Barca Legacy

Barcelona gave outgoing manager Pep Guardiola a triumphant send-off after lifting the Copa Del Rey with a 3-0 final victory over Athletic Bilbao.

Pedro netted a double at the Vicente Calderon, scoring either side of a 20th-minute Lionel Messi strike to seal the comprehensive win in what was Guardiola's last match in charge.

The triumph ends the coach's illustrious career at Camp Nou on a high after the Catalan giants missed out on the Primera Liga title to Real Madrid, with the cup triumph marking his 14th trophy in four years at Barca.

Messi broke free inside the first 30 seconds and fired a warning shot inches past Iraizoz's right-hand post before Pedro also had a goalbound effort defected just wide.

However, from the resulting corner Pique's header rebounded off Javi Martinez and fell perfectly for Pedro to sweep home his 12th goal of the season.

Barca were completely dominant in the opening quarter and Messi nearly had a spectacular second when his curling effort from just outside the area was clawed away at full stretch by Iraizoz while Xavi also fired just over from range.

The killer second goal was coming, though, and it arrived after 20 minutes thanks to a brilliant defence-splitting pass from Andres Iniesta which put Messi in the clear, and even on his weaker right foot the brilliant forward gave Iraizoz no chance.

Four minutes later it was three as Pique played a quick free-kick into Messi and his pass was stroked home clinically from 20 yards by Pedro.

Athletic had to wait 26 minutes for their first attempt on goal as Jose Manuel Pinto parried Markel Susaeta's fierce drive to safety but moments later the Basque side had a major reason for complaint as Llorente appeared to be felled by Pique when clean through on goal.

The defender certainly appeared to have a hold of his Spain colleague's shirt and would most likely have been sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity had the penalty been awarded.

Ibai Gomez had Athletic's best chance of the game six minutes into the second half as Ander Herrera played him in behind Adriano but his chip over Pinto floated just wide.

Messi then nearly capped another classic performance with 20 minutes remaining as he dashed past five Athletic defenders before Iraizoz blocked his low effort and no Barca player was following up to take advantage of the rebound.

Athletic had one final chance to get a consolation goal but Jon Aurtenetxe's wayward header when completely unmarked at the back post summed up their evening as Barca comfortably saw out the final moments to claim their 26th Copa del Rey title.

Llorente Fires Bilbao into Final

Fernando Llorente fired Athletic Bilbao into the Europa League final with an 88th-minute strike as his side overturned a first-leg deficit to see off Sporting Lisbon 3-1 at the Estadio San Mames.

Marcelo Bielsa's men, who accounted for Manchester United early in the competition, looked set to take the tie into extra-time after goals from Markel Susaete and Gomez Ibai sandwiched a strike from Rene van Wolfswinkel.

But with the score at 2-1 to Athletic on the night and 3-3 on aggregate, Llorente lashed a right-foot shot into the corner of the net from an Ibai cross to seal the home side's passage into the final where they will meet fellow Spaniards Atletico Madrid.

Conscious that an early goal for Sporting could spell the end of their chances, the home side started nervously and Matias Fernandez fired a free-kick over the bar for the visitors in the seventh minute.

Llorente brought the first save out of Sporting keeper Rui Patricio in the ninth minute with a left-foot shot, then Iker Muniain saw his effort from six yards blocked by Sporting's Alexandre Xandao.

Patricio saved from Ibai as Bilbao began to press, but the hosts' pressure finally told in the 17th minute when Susaeta rifled a left-foot shot high into the net after a short pass from Llorente.

Sporting almost responded through Fernandez, who had a shot blocked in the net, while Bruno Pereirinha should have done better from close quarters, before Brazilian Anderson Polga forced a fingertip save out of home keeper Gorka Iraizoz.

The home side had chances of their own with Patricio tipping a Llorente effort round the post, before Sporting put themselves back in control of the tie two minutes before the break when Van Wolfswinkel fired home from the centre of the box.

The visitors' lead lasted less than three minutes as Athletic Club levelled the aggregate scores three minutes later when Ibai drilled a low shot past Patricio after being set up by the ever-present Llorente.

In an exciting start to the second half, Patricio tipped over a shot from Susaeta and a Llorente header hit the post, before Emiliano Insua came close at the other end with a drilled shot which Iraizoz tipped round the post.

Polga's long-range effort was easily held by Iraizoz and the game looked to be heading for extra-time when Ibai crossed from the left side of the penalty area and Llorente fired home to send Bilbao to the final, winning 4-3 on aggregate.

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Capel Sporting Strike Stuns Bilbao

Sporting Lisbon netted twice in the last 15 minutes to overturn a deficit against Athletic Bilbao and earn themselves a narrow 2-1 lead to take across the Iberian peninsula for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Athletic, looking for their first major trophy since 1984, took a 54th-minute lead through Jon Aurtenetxe but Sporting drew level through Emiliano Insua before the impressive Diego Capel - a Spain international - drilled home the match-winner 10 minutes from time to down his countrymen.

The Portuguese outfit pushed hard for a third goal late on but Athletic managed to keep them out to leave the tie firmly in the balance ahead of next week's second leg in the Basque country.

Both sides looked keen to attack throughout the first half, but neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled as the period finished goalless.

Sporting settled the quicker and Insua drew an early save out of Athletic custodian Gorka Iraizoz before Ricky van Wolfswinkel fired just wide.

Athletic's first decent opportunity arrived in the 12th minute, and really should have resulted in the opening goal of the game but the unmarked Fernando Llorente, usually so deadly in the air, powered his header from Markel Susaeta's corner a foot over the crossbar.

Susaeta and Ander Herrera saw long-range efforts go wide and saved by Rui Patricio, respectively, as Athletic sought a valuable away goal, but Sporting were looking dangerous on the break and twice came close following lightning-fast counter-attacks.

The first saw Joao Pereira drive in a rising shot from the edge of the box which appeared to strike the outside of the post, although Iraizoz looked to have it covered.

Then, moments after Van Wolfswinkel had seen a 20-yard effort go just wide, Sporting broke away again but Stijn Schaars, after being set up by Capel, fluffed his lines

Sporting also threatened first at the start of the second half but, after Insua had seen his cross-shot parried by Iraizoz, it was Athletic who took the lead.

Susaeta curled in a free-kick from the right and after Insua had failed to cut the ball out - slicing his attempted clearance behind him instead of away from danger - defender Aurtenetxe slotted in at the far post.

That was a huge blow for Sporting, but it could have got even worse five minutes later as Athletic hit the woodwork, Fernando Amorebieta latching onto a loose ball inside the area to drive in a shot that struck the inside of the post before staying out.

Susaeta then saw a looping header land on the roof of the net with Rui Patricio struggling as the visitors went in search of a potentially decisive second goal.

At that stage it looked like Athletic would be left holding all the aces for their return to San Mames, but with their final dreams slipping away, Sporting staged a superb fightback.

Van Wolfswinkel spurned a great chance to equalise in the 69th minute when he glanced a header wide from close range, but within six minutes of that miss the home side were on level terms.

Insua was the quickest to react to a bouncing ball in the Athletic area to guide a header just inside the far post.

Buoyed by that goal, Sporting started to lay siege to the Athletic defence and it was 2-1 four minutes later when Capel drilled in a low 25-yard shot that fizzed into the near corner.

Substitute Bruno Pereirinha, having replaced Capel, should have made it 3-1 in the 84th minute but curled just wide from the near the penalty spot as Athletic survived a late onslaught to limit the damage.

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Bilbao Reach Europa Last Four

Athletic Bilbao overcame Schalke in a tight encounter at San Mames on Thursday night to seal a 6-4 aggregate win and advance to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals.

Trailing 4-2 from the quarter-final first leg, Schalke twice took the lead on the night through Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Raul.

But the home side replied with strikes from Ibai Gomez and Markel Susaeta to secure a draw which earned them an aggregate victory and a last-four meeting with Sporting Lisbon.

Bilbao threatened first with an eighth-minute header from Iker Muniain which warmed the palms of visiting goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall.

Schalke responded almost instantly with a testing volley from Huntelaar, which had to be tipped over the bar at full stretch by Gorka Iraizoz in the Bilbao goal.

The German side seemed to take confidence from the effort, and Lewis Holtby also gave Iraizoz something to think about with a long-range left-footed drive which was well held by the goalkeeper.

Huntelaar then put a header over from a few yards out after a corner from Jose Manuel Jurado.

Athletic were struggling to contain their opponents and it was no surprise when they conceded after 28 minutes as in-form Huntelaar notched his 10th goal of the competition, picking up the ball on the edge of the area and drilling a shot into the bottom left corner.

But the Spanish hosts began to find some rhythm as the half wore on and Gomez produced a stunning equaliser four minutes before the break.

The striker, who had come on as a replacement for Andoni Iraola after 30 minutes, raced on to a ball on the left wing, cut across into the centre and smashed an unstoppable shot home from 25 yards out.

Schalke were back in front seven minutes into the second half thanks to Raul, who made the most of a neat lay-off from Obasi to fire home left-footed from the edge of the area.

But Athletic took just three minutes to draw level once more, Muniain supplying the pass for Susaeta to finish into the bottom right corner from 15 yards.

It was an absorbing contest for the San Mames crowd, and Holtby tried to get Schalke back in front with a drive which went narrowly wide of the left post, while Iraizoz needed two attempts to keep hold of a shot from Jefferson Farfan.

Athletic pressed for a winner in the closing stages but Susaeta fired their best chance across the face of goal and past the left post.

Athletic Comeback at Veltins Arena

Fernando Llorente's two goals helped Athletic Bilbao to a 4-2 comeback win at Schalke in the Europa League quarter-final first leg.

After Llorente put Bilbao ahead in the 20th minute, Schalke's Raul Gonzalez rallied the hosts back in front with two goals either side of half-time.

But Llorente headed in an equaliser in the 73rd minute to turn the high-tempo contest in Bilbao's favour, as Oscar de Marcos and Iker Muniain scored late on at Veltins Arena.

"It was a great game," Llorente said. "It wasn't at all easy because they responded very well to our first goal. What Raul did was incredible. You can't ask anything more of a match."

At Schalke both sides started well but Bilbao struck first through Llorente when he poked in his own rebound that goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand failed to hold on to.

Bilbao's lead lasted two minutes before Raul redirected Atsuto Uchida's cross inside the near post. The former Real Madrid star then made it 2-1 in the 60th minute with a dipping volley from outside the area.

With Schalke pressing for another goal, Llorente muscled past a pair of defenders to flick in a corner for his 25th goal in all competitions.

Bilbao showed the same attacking flair that led them to oust Manchester United in the previous round as De Marcos scored the winner in the 81st off a rebound and Muniain sealed the win in stoppage time on a counterattack.

"We knew they were good on the break, but we let our guard down," the Schalke defender Christian Fuchs said. "Everyone will now be against us but we can still pull off a miracle. We need three goals but anything is possible."

Atlético Madrid beat Hannover 2-1 in the other first-leg quarter-final between Spanish and German teams. Radamel Falcao capitalised on Atlético's early dominance by heading home a free-kick nine minutes in for his seventh goal of the competition this season. The Colombia striker is the Europa League's all-time leading scorer with 22 in 23 appearances.

Hannover levelled through Mame Diouf's 38th-minute goal and looked set to head back to Germany with a positive result until Eduardo Salvio blasted in a shot from long range to give Atlético the victory in the 89th minute.

"Thank God for the goal, it gives us some breathing room heading to Germany," Salvio said.

In the Netherlands the Australia midfielder Brett Holman scored one and created another as AZ Alkmaar got the better of Valencia 2-1.

Holman put AZ in front with a powerful volley in the 45th minute but Mehmet Topal levelled for Valencia six minutes later. Maarten Martens converted Holman's cross from six yards in the 78th minute to earn the win for AZ.

Sporting Lisbon inflicted on the Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv their first away defeat in the competition with second-half goals from Marat Izmailov and Emiliano Insua. Izmailov scored from a cross by Diego Capel in the 51st minute and Insua extended the Portuguese club's lead 13 minutes later with a low drive from a free-kick.

Cleiton Xavier got a valuable away goal for Metalist Kharkiv with a 90th-minute penalty.

Bilbao Leave United Trailing

Athletic Bilbao produced another dazzling performance to beat Manchester United 2-1 in the second leg of their Europa League tie at San Mames and secure a 5-3 aggregate success.

Manchester United had travelled to the Basque Country hoping to overturn a 3-2 deficit from the first leg at Old Trafford, but were rarely able to get on the front foot against opponents who combined attacking flair with a furious intensity to retrieve possession when they did lose the ball.

Bilbao took the lead on the night with a stunning goal after 23 minutes, with Fernando Llorente demonstrating perfect technique to strike a first-time volley into the bottom corner from a long ball over the top of the United defence.

Further chances came and went for the home side before Oscar de Marcos made it 2-0 in the 65th minute with a shot from 12 yards that deflected past David de Gea.

Wayne Rooney pulled a goal back with a tremendous curling effort ten minutes from time to give United a lifeline and set up a more interesting finale, but Bilbao held firm to advance to the quarter-finals.

Having acknowledged how well the Basque outfit had played at Old Trafford seven days ago, Sir Alex Ferguson used the availability of Tom Cleverley to pack his midfield.

The idea was to stem Athletic's source of attacks and get support to lone striker Rooney as quickly as possible.

United did create a very early opening when Park Ji-sung sent Rooney running free.

But the striker opted to cross instead of shoot, no-one was up in support and from that moment, United's hopes took a nosedive.

Markel Susaeta's free-kick was deflected wide after Michael Carrick had fouled Ander Herrera, then Patrice Evra headed Javi Martinez's effort off the line.

The pressure was mounting and United survived a major scare when Llorente found Iker Muniain with a superb pass.

Muniain's shot struck the base of a post with De Gea beaten and De Marcos drove the rebound wildly over when he should have scored.

De Marcos had another shot saved before Athletic took the lead in magnificent style.

Fernando Amorebieta launched a long ball across the pitch from halfway. There appeared little danger, even as the ball dropped over Rio Ferdinand's shoulder - but Llorente met it with a first-time volley that gave De Gea no chance as it flew into the opposite corner.

It was the least Athletic deserved after proving their Old Trafford triumph was no fluke and meant United had to score at least three times to go through, something they did not appear capable of.

Ryan Giggs' corner was easily collected by Gorka Iraizoz on a rare United foray forward.

And then, after Rooney had led a rapid counter-attack, Young was tackled by Amorebieta inside the Athletic area.

Llorente, doubtful beforehand with a hamstring strain, was replaced by Gaizka Toquero five minutes before the interval.

But it hardly seemed to matter and the glee of the home fans at half-time summed up the state of the tie.

De Marcos blasted an early shot wide at the start of the second period and clearly the hosts had no intention of easing up.

And when De Marcos and Susaeta combined to set up Andoni Iraola, the visitors almost conceded another memorable goal.

Instead of shooting, the full-back weaved his way past three defenders inside the United box. It was brilliant stuff but the Athletic skipper spoiled his hard work by flicking the ball narrowly wide.

Moments later, Iraola crossed for Toquero but, unmarked, he lifted his shot over.

Rafael was booked for deliberately handling an attempted pass by Herrera, before Chris Smalling - in a Petr Cech style helmet to protect a head wound - and Paul Pogba, on his 19th birthday, were introduced after 63 minutes for Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick.

It was the clearest evidence that Ferguson had given the tie up.

When De Marcos netted Athletic's second from Iraola's cross two minutes later, it was effectively all over.

Pogba was booked for a late challenge on Herrera and, having elected to leave Rooney on, hearts were in mouths when he took his time getting up from a tangle with Jon Aurtenetxe.

Thankfully he got to his feet and 10 minutes from time curled home a brilliant effort of his own - but it was far too late for United.

Athletic Bilbao v Manchester United - Preview

Athletic Bilbao are in the driving seat ahead of the second leg of their Europa League clash with Manchester United following a 3-2 win at Old Trafford.

The Primera Liga club stunned many by securing a remarkable success at the Theatre of Dreams, although it could have been much worse for Sir Alex Ferguson's troops had it not been for Wayne Rooney's injury-time penalty.

Iker Muniain's late strike looked to have almost guaranteed Bilbao a place in the quarter-finals only for Rooney to give the Red Devils a glimmer of hope for the San Mames clash.

The first-leg result means as a minimum that United need to score at least twice to progress while a goal for the home side means the visitors would then require three goals to advance on aggregate.

Only twice have the Manchester giants overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit, their famous 1984 triumph over Barcelona with the other coming in January 1957 following a 3-0 second-leg win over Bilbao at Maine Road.

Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa is hoping his team can replicate their display in Manchester, a performance that won high praise.

"I believe that on one night or in one match a team like Athletic can get very close to the level of opponents such as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United," stated the Argentinian.

Team news

Ferguson has a number of big decisions to make regarding team selection ahead of their must-win clash in Spain on Thursday evening.

Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney all started Sunday's Premier League success over West Brom, meaning Dimitar Berbatov is likely to again settle for a place on the substitutes' bench.

United are boosted by the return of Ecuador international winger Antonio Valencia, who is available following a four-week absence due to a hamstring injury.

The ex-Wigan Athletic man has trained this week and gives the visitors a useful option out wide with Nani among those who did not travel to northern Spain.

Midfielder Anderson is definitely out due to a hamstring strain while Phil Jones (flu) is also missing along with England international defender Chris Smalling (head).

For the home side Bielsa is playing a cagey game regarding team selection, although he did reveal midfielder Oscar de Marcos, one of last week's goalscorers, was doubtful after being struck down by a flu virus.

Target-man Fernando Llorente is expected to lead the line for Bilbao with support from Muniain and Markel Susaeta.

Bielsa Believes Bilbao Can Progress

Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa believes his side can match Manchester United, but thinks it is unrealistic to expect his team to perform like they did at Old Trafford every week.

Athletic earned huge amounts of praise for their display in last week's Europa League last-16 first-leg encounter with United. 

Most observers felt United were lucky to escape with just a 3-2 defeat that leaves them with an outside chance of turning the tie around tomorrow evening.

Yet Bielsa's team followed it by losing a crucial La Liga encounter with Osasuna, that leaves them in seventh place, an enormous 33 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid.

'The difference in points and finance is there for everyone to see,' said the former Chile and Argentina coach.

'But I also believe that on one night or in one match a team like Athletic can get very close to the level of opponents such as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United.

'However, to maintain that throughout an entire league season is extremely difficult.'

Bielsa is playing a cagey game with his team selection, although he did reveal midfielder Oscar de Marcos, one of last week's goalscorers, was doubtful after being struck down by a flu virus.

For all the significance of the potential achievement Bilbao could complete on Thursday, Bielsa is not getting carried away.

'There is no prestige to coaching a national side or beating Manchester United,' he said, when asked whether victory would be the biggest moment of his career.

'Personal things like that do not concern me. They do not last very long.

'The evaluation of anything has to be done over the long-term, not the short. And we still have another very important 90 minutes ahead of us.'

United Hopes Hang on Return Leg

Manchester United's Europa League challenge is hanging by a thread after Athletic Bilbao outclassed their opponents to claim a 3-2 victory in the first leg at Old Trafford.

Bilbao produced a sumptuous performance in the first instalment of the last-16 tie to leave United wondering how they will head to San Mames next week trailing by only one goal.

Wayne Rooney had given the hosts a first-half lead before converting an injury-time penalty to give the Premier League title hopefuls a glimmer of hope going into the return meeting.

United took the lead midway through the first half when Rooney pounced on the loose ball from close range after Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz could only push out Javier Hernandez's shot.

However, the visitors were a constant threat and, after Markel Susaeta had lifted a good opportunity wide, Fernando Llorente deservedly header Bilbao level just before half-time.

Bilbao, who sit fifth in La Liga, were even more dominant after the break and United were indebted to David de Gea as the Spanish keeper denied twice denied Iker Munian either side of a brilliant stop from Llorente.

The Red Devils' flimsy defence, though, was eventually made to pay on 72 minutes when a wonderfully crafted move was finished by a crisp volley from De Marcos despite a suspicion of offside.

De Marcos was then involved in two late goals as first, his volley was pushed out by De Gea for Munian to crash home before his handball then gave Rooney the chance to pull a goal back from the penalty spot in stoppage-time.

Sir Alex Follows Sir Matt Again

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his side they underestimate a young Athletic Club team at their peril as the sides vie for a place in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.

It is 55 years since Sir Matt Busby oversaw United's victory over Athletic Club in the sides' only previous competitive meeting. His side did it the hard way after a 5-3 loss in Bilbao, but a 3-0 win at Old Trafford sealed progress to the European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals. Sir Alex, the only man to rival Sir Matt in the pantheon of United managers, is hoping lightning strikes twice over the next ten days but he is under no illusions about the task being any easier than it was in 1959.

"It'll be a very difficult tie," said the 70-year-old, whose side gave him a nervous evening last time out in this compeition as they edged past AFC Ajax. "Athletic look very impressive and they're a very progressive team at the moment in Spain. We'll need to be awake from the off as our European form been disappointing this season. We have the opportunity to progress in the competition but to do so we'll need to play very well.

"I've not met [Athletic coach] Marcelo Bielsa but I admire his work. He's overseen the emergence of a very good, determined, organised Bilbao side with great belief. He's instilled those qualities in his team – we will be up against the best Bilbao side I've seen for many years. We'll have to be strong at the back; if you offered me a 1-0 [win] tomorrow I'd take it, as it's much better than a 2-1 or 3-2."

Much may depend on goalkeeper David de Gea, who has rewarded his manager's faith with a growing assurance in recent weeks after a shaky start to life in England following his summer move from Club Atlético de Madrid. 

"I was given another opportunity to prove myself and I've taken it," said the 21-year-old. "I've only good things to say about Athletic. They're fourth in the Liga so we know it won't be easy. They have very good attacking players."

Indeed, Bielsa is hoping the likes of Markel Susaeta, Iker Muniain and Fernando Llorente rise to the challenge. 

"We're very proud and full of hope and excitement," said the Argentinian. "Taking on this Manchester United side, with what they've achieved, the great players they have, and the man responsible for getting them where they are, represents the highest level of competition for us."