The season is coming to a close for Athletic Bilbao and their UEFA Europa League campaign. The team has been performing well throughout the tournament, but they have yet to qualify for the group stage. This is due to several factors including injuries, poor form, and lack of experience. However, with the right approach and preparation, the team can still make it through to the round of 16.

First leg of the Europa League: Qualifying as Group Runner-Up

In the first leg of the Europa League, Athletic Bilbao faced off against another Spanish club, Levante UD. Despite being the better team, Levante managed to secure a point. However, Athletic Bilbao was not able to replicate that performance in the second leg. In the end, Levante won the game 2-1 and qualified as the runner-up of the group.

Facing Ligue 1 Rival in Round of 16

After qualifying as runner-up, Athletic Bilbao will now face the Ligue 1 rival, Stade de Reims. The match will be held on June 9th at 7 pm in Paris. The two teams have met before, with both sides having won the previous matches. Therefore, it should be an exciting match to watch.

Conclusion

Athletic Bilbao has a chance to make it through to the round of 16 of the Europa League. With the right approach and preparation, the team can still achieve their goal of making it into the Champions League. However, they must also take care of any potential setbacks that may come their way. It remains to be seen how the team will perform in the upcoming matches, but with their hard work and determination, they have a good chance of reaching the final.