[IanDangerously]

MANCHESTER UNITED FC (ENG) vs ATHLETIC CLUB (ESP)
UEFA Europa League - Round of 16, first leg
Thursday, March 8th 2012 - 8:05PM
Old Trafford, Manchester

Previous Meetings

16/01/57 - Athletic Club 5-3 Manchester United
6/2/57 - Manchester United 3 -0 Athletic Club (6-5 agg)

Manchester United vs Spanish Teams: 11-17-13 (P41)
Athletic Club vs English Teams: 3-4-7 (P13)

Referee

Florian Meyer (GER)

Probable Teams: Athletic

1. Gorka IRAIZOZ
2. Gaizka TOQUERO
5. Fernando AMOREBIETA
8. Ander ITTURASPE
9. Fernando LLORENTE
10. Oscar DE MARCO
14. Markel SUSAETA
15. Andoni IRAOLA (C)
19. Iker MUNAIN
21. Ander HERRERA
24. Javi Martinez

Probable Teams: Manchester United

1. David DE GEA
3. Patrice EVRA
4. Phil JONES
6. Jonny EVANS
8. ANDERSON
9. Dimitar BERBATOV
12. Chris SMALLING
13. Ji-Sung PARK
14. CHICHARITO
18. Ashley YOUNG
22. Paul SCHOLES

[CB91]

Hopefully Bilbao win but it'll be a very tough match for both teams. If Llorente and Muniain turn up then I can see an away goal or 2.

[Colbert]

Saw Bilbao in the last round and they are always great value. Such a romantic club

Hopefully they can put on a show tonight and prove there is more to life in La Liga than the big two.

[Welsh Leprecaun]

Offered a ticket for tonight for £15 but too sick to go. So gutted Hoping we seal this tie early on so we can tinker in the away leg

[Stu Laverty]

Hopefully the tie isn't dead before the return leg. I definitely think Man Utd will win, but I expect a good game.

[rickjames]

Atlethico Bilbao is a very good team. I wish I saw them more this season after reading the redcafe thread and comming across a video showing their man marking policy.

They appear very disciplined with some good players, this will be a tighter fixture than Ajax imo

[-Someone-Like-You-]

I'm going to hope for goals and go for 2-2, prediction. Though it will more likely be 1-1. Not out of it, but it could also be 0-0.

Why do I think a draw will happen tonight?

[Akkuz]

Whatever happens this leg, I think it'll be far from over. Bilbao are a solid side.

I think we will win 3-1 but the away leg will be extremely tricky. Let's see how it goes!

[The Rusty Spork]

I just want Bielsa to go absolutely mental

[Tommyjw]

Man Utd:
De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Park, Jones, Giggs, Young, Rooney, Hernandez.
Subs: Amos, Ferdinand, Anderson, Carrick, Nani, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva.

Athletic Bilbao:
Iraizoz, Iraola, Javi Martinez, San Jose, Aurtenetxe, Iturraspe, De Marcos, Ander Herrera, Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain.
Subs: Raul, Toquero, David Lopez, Koikili, Inigo Perez, Ekiza, Ibai.

[Tucking Fypo]

Park starting and Jones in midfield, yes.

[rickjames]

No Nani? Thats gay

[Colbert]

Is Smalling wearing bandages or an epic hat?

[IWantSomeMushu]

****ing Channel 5 commentators.

[Welsh Leprecaun]

Looking like it's going to be shifting more to a 4-1-2-1-2 type of formation

EDIT: United's bench is

[SirMasterKey]

So Athletic are blending into the pitch nicely.

[-Someone-Like-You-]

I like the fact that they've come out to play. Already they've made a good few defending moves and clearances. Just now a counter which could have turned into more. I mean they are underdogs and sort of remind me of Cardiff in the Carling Cup final. I hope for the sakes of their fans they have a good game, their fans get some excitement and go home proud. Hence why I predicted a draw above.

[-Someone-Like-You-]

That said, Rooney is in the team. And I rate Rooney. A lot. He can change the game in an instant for United. So if United score first, there's a very good chance Rooney will be involved somehow, and probably hold it out. But the longer it goes on, the better chance Athletic have!

[Tommyjw]

They arent that match of an underdog, perfectly capable of winning.

Not as strong a midfield as i would have liked to seen, but i guess it has to be not-full-strength at some time.

[The Rusty Spork]

Enjoyable match, Llorente is having a great game leading the line. Martinez probably the best player on the pitch at the minute.