Athletic Bilbao has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Europa League after finishing as group runner-up, setting up a showdown with a Ligue 1 team in the round of 16.

The Basque club secured their place in the knockout stage by defeating CSKA Moscow 2-1 on aggregate in the group stages. The win came despite Athletic's struggles at home against the Russian side, where they were defeated 4-2 on the night and 7-5 on aggregate.

Despite the disappointment of losing out on a chance to reach the semi-finals, Athletic coach Iñaki Pelegrín was pleased with his team's performance throughout the competition. "We've worked hard all season and we're proud of what we've achieved," he said. "To reach the quarterfinals is a great achievement for us."

Pelegrín will now have to face a tough opponent in the form of Paris Saint-Germain, who won the Ligue 1 title this season and have a strong record in European competitions. But Athletic are not daunted by the prospect of facing such a formidable opponent, and are determined to give it their best shot.

"We know that PSG is one of the best teams in Europe and that they have a lot of talent," Pelegrín said. "But we're confident in our ability to compete with them and we'll do everything we can to progress to the next round."

Regardless of the outcome of the match, Athletic Bilbao's journey through the Europa League has been a testament to the club's resilience and determination. They have shown that they are capable of competing at the highest level, and have set themselves a new target for next season - reaching the final of the tournament.

In conclusion, Athletic Bilbao's Europa League campaign may have ended with a disappointing defeat, but their success in securing a spot in the quarterfinals is a reminder of just how far the club has come under the guidance of coach Iñaki Pelegrín. With a tough challenge ahead of them in the round of 16, Athletic are fully prepared to give it their best shot, and we can only look forward to seeing what they achieve in the future.