Europa League Final - Atlético de Madrid vs Athletic Club, Bucharest

Morzadec

vs



Very difficult to call this all-Spanish final. The bookies have put Atleti as very slight favourites, and that's probably about right given their recent form. Diego Simeone has really done a fantastic job since he took over. Atleti were far the better team when they met a couple of months back, although were playing with home advantage, and Athletic were without Llorente. I expect a much better performance from Athletic this time, and they will be fired up to bring home their first European trophy.

Atleti are on a remarkable run in Europe - winning their last 11 games, but having said that Bilbao did extraordinary well to knock United out of the competition.

It may well come down to the two main men up front - Falcao for Atleti and Llorente for Athletic. Falcao has 10 goals in the competition and Llorente 7. I wouldn't bet against either of these grabbing the winner.

Atleti will almost certainly line up like this:

Courtois

Juanfran - Miranda - Godín - Felipe Luis

Mario Suarez - Gabi

Arda Turan - Diego - Adrián

Falcao


This is if they go 4-2-3-1. It's also very possible that they will play 4-4-2, with Adrián playing as more of a striker and Diego drifting out left. Salvio will probably make an appearance at some stage too.

I'll leave the Athletic team to someone who knows their team better.

I'm probably in the massive minority on these boards in wanting Atleti to win! I'm expecting a great game anyway, a very competitive game with goals. My prediction is a very tight 2-1 Atelti win.

Aúpa Atleti!

mike65

They didn't have to do that well to see off Utd!

Should be a cracker of a game if both teams manage to avoid "Final Freeze".

Morzadec

By the way I didn't mean to have the Atleti crest so much bigger! Thought they would come out the same size

LuckyLloyd

Is this on tonight?

MrJoeSoap

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Is this on tonight?

7.45pm tonight yeah. Live on TV3.

GavRedKing

When's the game?

I like Bilbao, they're a breath of fresh air and have some cracking players.

I think Madrid will take it though, Falcao is a goal machine and our young keeper we sent on loan, Courtois is one of the finest young keepers around.

One thing this final should produce is good football and entertainment so I'm going to predict a 1-1 draw at 90 minutes and ?A.Nadrid winning 2-1 in ET.

:pac:

Rekop dog

A Madrid for me. Thought Bilbao looked a little overawed in the semi and played a good bit below their ability. Madrid's experience will see them through on the night imo. Really looking forward to it though.

mike65

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Is this on tonight?

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

7.45pm tonight yeah. Live on TV3.

edit - and Channel 5 (said ITV4 earlier)

Squelchy

Reported to be wearing Spanish national jerseys instead of their own to wind up the Basques.
Classic.

steelcityblues

Squelchy wrote: »

Reported to be wearing Spanish national jerseys instead of their own to wind up the Basques.
Classic.

Strange one. I thought Atletico fans in general were anti-royalist, because of their traditional support for Real?

James Forde

Really looking forward to this. Hopefully Muniain an Llorente turn on the style.

Can see it being a goalfest

Dolph Starbeam

Should be a cracking game, Athletic will prefer going in as the underdogs, they should line out as they did in the first leg against Sporting, Ibai being replaced by De Marcos.

Iraizoz

Iraola - Martinez - Amorebieta - Aurtenetxe

De Marcos - Susaeta

Iturraspe - Herrera - Muniain

Llorente



No real fixed formation though as all of the midfielders like to get forward.


I'm going to go for a thrilling 3-2 win for Athletic.

Dolph Starbeam

Tiago is suspended also, will be a big loss for Atleti.

Morzadec

Mark! wrote: »

Tiago is suspended also, will be a big loss for Atleti.

Don't agree. Atleti's centre midfielder is much of a muchness and Gabi and Suarez are no worse than Tiago. None are especially great players but Tiago certainly won't be missed much, he may not have even started if he wasn't suspended.

Any of the front 4 or the fullbacks or Courtois would have been classed as a big loss imo, but Tiago no. A slight blow would be a better description

carlop

steelcityblues wrote: »

Strange one. I thought Atletico fans in general were anti-royalist, because of their traditional support for Real?

Unfortunately there is a sizeable chunk of Atletico ultras who are of the nutjob fascist variety. It's not really a royal/non-royal thing though, more a Madrid vs separatist parts of Spain thing.

That being said, Atletico as a team were set up by Athletic Bilbao fans and a few weeks ago their fans held up banners in memory of the young Basque killed after the Schalke match.

Mark! wrote: »

Tiago is suspended also, will be a big loss for Atleti.

I'm not really a fan of his at all. He goes missing for chunks of the game, but he'd be a good option off the bench.

applehunter

Should be a cracker. Trev & Lou are really looking forward to Bucharest.

Bilboa have been very exciting team to watch in this competition.

Shame the game is on in Bucharest.

Lawrence1895

I hope, Athletic Bilbao will lift the cup. They were outstanding this campaign and their fantastic supporters deserve the title big time :cool:

Nuri Sahin

I feel Atletico's experience will tell (player wise) in the end. It's going to be a cracking final whatever the result, and either side would be very deserving winners.

Re: Tiago, he's no real loss IMO.

Moneymaker

Very evenly matched sides. Falcao and Adrian, Llorente and Minuain. Think Bilbao have a big performance in them more so then Atleti.

Rooting for Bilbao but I wouldn't begrudge a victory for Atleti. Like both clubs. I admire Bilbao as a club and I like Atleti for their madness.

Can't wait.

This thread deserves more love too, this match will be every bit as good(if not better) then the CL final.

Professional Griefer

Falcao to win it again. Can't wait

Beefy78

I'm a big fan of Falcao so I'm hoping that Atletico do it. It's hard not to like the way Bilbao play though. Should be a cracking game.

xtal191

I cant stand tv3, why isnt it on Setanta Ireland or ESPN??

The_Kew_Tour

Bilbao hopefully.

They were awesome against us and I hope they finish the job off.

The way they applauded some of the United legends of the field has not been forgotten.

I wish them well.

Nuri Sahin

Coverage for the final doesn't begin till 7.30, 15 mins before a big football final.. okay then.
No wonder I rarely if ever watch TV3, probably a good thing given the punditry but still. I see Sky are barely mentioning the final tonight also. Not surprising with them I suppose.

Richard Hillman

There is pre match coverage on 3e right now

Nuri Sahin

ATLETICO MADRID: Coutois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe Luis; Mario Suarez, Gabi; Diego, Adrian Lopes, Arda Turan; Falcao

ATHLETIC BILBAO: Iraizoz; Iraola; Javi Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe; Herrera, Iturraspe, De Marcos; Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain

MonkeyTennis

Should be an absolute cracker. I really wish UEFA would be go back to the old way of actually CHAMPIONS in the CL and all the rest in the Europa

MoscowFlyer

They should just award a CL place to the winners of this trophy. Still can't believe this isn't the case.

Mitch Connor

MonkeyTennis wrote: »

Should be an absolute cracker. I really wish UEFA would be go back to the old way of actually CHAMPIONS in the CL and all the rest in the Europa

the eruopa league would become the more valuable tournament doing it that way. its all about the money

Dempsey

Looking forward to a great football match regardless of who wins. Hoping that Bilbao do the biz

monkey9

I'm really hoping for a Bilboa victory!! This could be an absolute cracker!!!

Glico Man

Atmosphere and noise both sets of fans are making is fantastic

Nuri Sahin

What a finish from Falcao 1-0!

monkey9

Jaysus what a goal!!

Glico Man

What.a.goal...

kitakyushu

Goal of the season stuff there!

Didn't Falcao score the winner in last years final too?

ollie1

That was some finish by Falcao

Mikeyt086

Falcao is an absolute machine.

Consistency personified.

monkey9

kitakyushu wrote: »

Goal of the season stuff there!

Didn't Falcao score the winner in last years final too?

He did. I was at that actually!! He ended up that tournaments top scorer as well.

Mars Bar

That was a ridiculous goal!

dan1895

Hope Atleti do the business. Always had a soft spot for them. Was hoping for an atleti sporting final as they are two of the first yeams to play shels in europe.

Nuri Sahin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofd6HDElZto

Will I Amnt

Nice,had Falcao first scorer
Only tuning in now.

kitakyushu

Pity Dublin didn't get this final instead of last years one. It's been very good so far.

Nuri Sahin

Nicely worked by Bilbao, sliced shot from Llorente.

kryogen

If anybody would like to be a doll and post up a replay of the goal that would be nice, just turning the match on and it sounded special

Just saw it thanks Ade!

Nuri Sahin

Very unlike a Bielsa team, defence is all over the shop be it on the counter or not. Really poor challenge there too.

Richard Hillman

Should have been a red card. 2 footed and out of control of his body.

MoscowFlyer

Atmosphere is amazing.

kryogen

well worked again, more goals in this one!

Nuri Sahin

Another view of the goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjyHQFENPms