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The UEFA Europa League 2012 Group draw has been celebrated in Monaco today & this is how the Clubs have been placed in their Groups. Spain has three Clubs in the Europa League: Atletico de Madrid, Athletic Club Bilbao & Levente Below is a summary from Spanish Sports paper "AS" in Spanish but easily understood.

BAYERN MUNICH paid the 40M€ contract release clause of ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO & Spanish International player JAVI MARTINEZ to secure his services for the next 5 years. Spanish Football loses a great young player with enormous projection & future which is a Bayern gain. Martinez signs his release clause Javi Martinez overtakes Mario Gomez as the highest transfer fee player in Bundesliga History

Bombshell out of Germany this afternoon when German media "Bild" announced that BAYERN MUNICH would pay the 40M€ contract release clause of JAVI MARTINEZ midfielder for ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO & Spanish International. Javi Martinez The Spanish Football Club is silent & the German Club Bayern Munich dismiss the news as being incorrect.

There is a soap box drama happening at ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO which is worth a post for all the Spanish Football Sports readers. After attempting to renew the contract of 27 year old forward FERNANDO LLORENTE, the player has announced to his Club President that he does not wish to continue another season.

This piece of news out of Great Britain & ARSENAL FC is not new & again hits the local Spanish Football papers & media. Fernando Llorente The "Gunners" seek to have an alternative if Van Persie finally leaves the Club this summer. A name sounding loud to replace the Dutch striker is Spanish International & ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO forward FERNANDO LLORENTE.

Been sounding for weeks now, FC BARCELONA has´nt given up on its idea of incorporating ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO & Spanish International JAVI MARTINEZ. The player is liked by new Barça Coach Tito Vilanova & sees the player as a great promise to fill the Central Defender - defending Midfielder positions.

Rumours are hot on the transfer front as expected at this height of the off-season & with the Euro competition in full flight. One here locally is the news out of Germany that BAYERN MUNICH has its eyes on ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO & Spanish International midfielder JAVI MARTINEZ.The fact that a European giant has Javi Martinez in mind is not new nor is it surprising, so has Real Madrid & FC Barcelona

The wait is finally over. ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO & Coach MARCELO BIELSA have agreed to extend their contractual relationship until June 30th of 2013. The Argentine Coach was keeping in suspense these days all the members & fans of the Basque Club & has finally decided to continue for one more season at  "San Mamés".

ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO player JAVIER MARTINEZ has become the object of desire for REAL MADRID Coach Jose Mourinho. According to Spanish radio 'Onda Cero', Real Madrid has contacted with Athletic to negotiate the transfer of the player who has a buyout clause of 40M€. Real Madrid aims to reduce that amount & has offered 30M€, that's the limit set by José Mourinho for the signing of any player.

SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM Coach & Selector Vicente Del Bosque has handed in his final list of 23 players that will make up the 2012 EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP squad. The National Selector had to make some harsh & difficult decisions as he incorporated the absent FC Barcelona & Athletic Club Bilbao Internationals which obviously could only come into the squad with departures.

The image of today is the one below of FC BARCELONA with the SPANISH CUP ( Copa del Rey ) Trophy after defeating Athletic Club Bilbao 0 - 3 in the 2012 Final. FC Barcelona 2012 However, perhaps the more emotional & longer standing image is of now ex-Coach JOSEP GUARDIOLA. Guardiola Last nights game was his last as Barça Coach & in the best fashion the man leaves with another title.

FC BARCELONA has won this seasons SPANISH CUP FINAL ( Copa Del Rey ) with a 0 - 3 result over ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO. FC Barcelona Coach Josep Guardiola leaves the Club in the very best manner possible with another title under his belt & adding more to his legend status at the Club.Excellent atmosphere tonight which bought the 2011-2012 Spanish Football season to an end.

The city of Madrid is about to be visited by 1000s of ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO & FC BARCELONA followers as both are to play the Final of the SPANISH CUP ( Copa del Rey ) tomorrow at the "Vicente Calderon Stadium" (Home of Atletico de Madrid). At.Bilbao - FC Barcelona. A huge game to officially close the Spanish Football season with plenty of angles & stories in play: At.

The SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL squad began training today in Madrid without the Athletic Club Bilbao & FC Barcelona Internationals which play the Final of the Spanish Cup this Friday. The National team selector Del Bosque called up today Chelsea Fc players Juan Mata & Fernando Torres to join the squad as it prepares for upcoming International warm-up games against Serbia, Korea & China before the

Spanish Football Club ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO has captivated Spanish & European Football observers alike this season with their Football under the hands of Argentine Coach Bielsa. The Club has found a mix of experience & youth that now plays touch Football over the long kick up-front method. The team lost the Europa League Final to Spanish Club Atletico de Madrid but has a chance to win a title in

The winner tonight was SPANISH FOOTBALL. The only sad event is that unfortunately there can only be one winner, in this case, Â ATLETICO DE MADRIDÂ which proclaimed themselves EUROPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2011 - 2012 after defeating fellow Spanish Club ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO 3 - 0. Atletico managed to win the Europa League Cup again with the last time being back in 2010.

The SPANISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE may have already a title winner if REAL MADRID wins Athletic Club Bilbao tomorrow, or if Barcelona lose against Malaga FC in their game. But there is another title - on an individual level - that is totally up for grabs with still 3 Rounds left of the competition. The race for the Spanish League Top Goal scorer - "El Pichichi" - is a two man race between CRISTIANO

Mid-week SPANISH FOOTBALL action tonight with four games of Round 33 played. Here are all the final results & all the scorers. Granada GRANADA drew 2 - 2 with ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO in an exciting match of Football that had action right till the end. Granada started on fire with goals from ROMERO in the 2nd min & a second via GEIJO in the 74th min.

Three SPANISH FOOTBALL Clubs had 1ºst leg EUROPA LEAGUE duties tonight that gave some excellent games, plenty of goals & lots thrills with some chills. Fernando Llorente SCHLEKE 04 lost to ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO 2 - 4 in a "cracker" of a match. The Germans lead by their "forever young" Spanish Captian RAUL were looking strong & on the verge of taking the match when they were overrun by Bilbao

SPANISH FOOTBALL action continued tonight with five scheduled matches of Round 29. Big games with surprising results that will now be quickly summarized with final results & scorers. Falcao for At.Madrid ATLETICO DE MADRID managed a very important 2 - 1 victory over ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO that will give the Club a moral boost in their attempts to climb into Euro table positions.

Three SPANISH FOOTBALL Clubs had EUROPA LEAGUE duties tonight with their 2º leg return matches. Here is a brief summary, the final results & all the scorers. Llorente scores for Bilbao ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO won MANCHESTER UNITED 2 - 1 ( 5-3 on agg ) to knock out one of the greats of European Football & put in a magical night that will not be forgotten for years at Bilbao.

Six games of the SPANISH LEAGUE today/tonight as part of Round 25 which kicked off yesterday with four games already played. Instense SPANISH FOOTBALL action with all the final results & scorers below. Villareal - At.Bilbao Midday clash between the improving VILLAREAL & ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO which finished in a 2 - 2 draw.

Three SPANISH FOOTBALL Clubs had return leg EUROPA LEAGUE matches to play tonight. Here is a quick run through events of what has been a good night, with the final results & all the scorers. Muniain ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO hosted LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW with an important away goal up their sleeve from the away leg.

SPANISH CUP ( Copa del Rey ) action tonight with the semi final 2º leg match. FC BARCELONA greeted VALENCIA CF (without forward Soldado, a last moment discard) with a 1 -1 "advantage" from the 1º leg, & ended up adding to it winning tonight 2 - 0 ( 3 - 1 agg ). Thus the victory puts Barça into the Final of the Spanish Cup were they will meet Athletic Club Bilbao.

ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO are in the final of the SPANISH CUP ( Copa del Rey ) after defeating 6 - 2 the  2º B Division Club MIRANDES ( 8-3 agg). The dream run for Mirandes hit the wall at the "San Mames Stadium" in the 2º leg return semi - final match after a fabulous & unforgettable run. Congratulations guys, thanks for the Football & courage displayed.

SPANISH CUP 1º leg semi final match between 2º Division B Club MIRANDES & Liga Club ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO. Simple explanation & summary, the "downgrading" of the "dream ticket" for Mirandes. FERNANDO LLORENTE scored twice for a 1 - 2 away result for Bilbao, with late Mirandes goal. Fernando Llorente Please do not get me wrong, Mirandes were brave & put in a good performance, they should be

SPANISH FOOTBALL action tonigt with four matches of Round 21 played of the SPANISH LEAGUE. Here is a run down of all the main events, scorers & the final scores. Fernando Llorente Madrid Club RAYO VALLECANO played a good match but lost 2 - 3 to ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO with an inspired FERNANDO LLORENTE on the field who scored a HAT-TRICK for Bilbao ( 15th , 22nd & 67th min).

SPANISH FOOTBALL action with two 2º leg SPANISH CUP ( Copa del Rey ) quarter-finals clashes tonight with the following final results & scorers. Mallorca-Bilbao REAL MALLORCA hosted ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO with a 0 - 2 deficit from the 1º leg encounter. The home team was vibed up to attempt to turn around the result but failed to do so as the "Basque" Club defended well & played it cool to keep

While the Football World stands still & fixed to the Internet, Tv or a Radio with the 1º leg Spanish Cup match between Real Madrid & FC Barcelona, most forget that before & just finished was another SPANISH CUP ( Copa del Rey ) 1º leg match Quarter Final clash between ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO & MALLORCA.

The last two matches of the 2º leg of the SPANISH CUP ( Copa del Rey ) were played tonight with little surprises as the "big names" managed to finish off the job. At.Bilbao ALBACETE went to the ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO "lions den" with a 1 - 0 goal 1º st leg advantage. That quickly ended after Bilbao won 4 - 0 the 2º leg game & in doing so the tie ( 4- 1 on agg ).

LA LIGA continued tonight with Round 18 SPANISH FOOTBALL action scheduled. Here is a brief summary of match events, scorers & the final results. Getafe-At.Bilbao GETAFE drew 0 - 0 with ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO. The latter have gone to Getafe now eight times & have gone back home without a victory. This particular match was a bit boring although both sides hit the post respectively in the 2º half

SPANISH FOOTBALL back in serious action for 2012 with four SPANISH CUP 1º st leg matches played tonight. Seems the Xmas break has not been good for some Clubs as they were lacking spark & concentration, perhaps due to the extra calories, & some paid for it. Here is a quick summary of events, final results & scorers.

"All together. Go for the Cup". That is the name - "war cry" - of ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO in this video that the Club has just posted up on all the social media channels.The motive is to warm-up the Bilbao followers & build up the atmosphere for this Fridays SPANISH CUP FINAL ( Copa del Rey Final ) against FC BARCELONA at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid.

MANCHESTER CITY representatives have been said to have met up with the brother of ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO & Spanish International forward FERNANDO LLORENTEÂ , "Chus" who is also the players rep. The meeting was to express the clear interest of the English Premier League Champions to get the player over to England.

Athletic Club Bilbao vs. Olympique Lyonnais
Match day 4 Group Stages Europa League

Four wins in four games is an offer Remi Garde cannot refuse. Complete the mission and get a guaranteed spot in knockout stages of the lengthy Europa league, simple as that. The match at San Mames comes on the heels of a smart recovery against Bastia on Sunday.

De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Young, Jones, Giggs, Park; Rooney, Hernandez. Bench: Amos, Fabio, Ferdinand, Andeson, Carrick, Nani, Welbeck

"Confirmed Line Up: United vs Athletic Club Bilbao" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.