Athletic Bilbao has advanced to the round of 16 in the Europa League after securing their place as group runners-up. The Basque club's journey through the competition was filled with ups and downs, but they ultimately emerged victorious against their opponents from Scotland, Rangers.
The first leg of the tie saw Athletic Bilbao dominate on home soil, with goals from Iñaki Williams and Aitor Oviedo giving them a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time. However, the Scottish side refused to go down without a fight, scoring twice in the second half to level the scoreline and set up a tense second leg.
In the second leg, Athletic Bilbao were forced to play catch-up, but they responded well to take the lead again through a brace from Williams. Despite being behind, Rangers fought back to draw level once more before a late goal from Oviedo sealed their progress to the quarter-finals.
Now, Athletic Bilbao will face a French Ligue 1 team in the quarter-finals, having secured a spot in the knockout stages thanks to their impressive performance in Europe. They will be hoping to replicate their success in the domestic league, where they have been one of the top teams for several years.
Overall, Athletic Bilbao's Europa League campaign was a successful one, as they showed that they can compete with some of the best teams in Europe. With their quarter-final match coming up soon, fans will be eagerly anticipating the clash between two talented sides.