Manchester United 2-3 Athletic Bilbao - Match Report

In another frustrating European night at Old Trafford, Manchester United lost 2-3 to Spanish side Athletic Bilbao in the last sixteen of the Europa League. They now face the daunting task of having to score at least two away goals just to get back into the game when the return fixture takes place at the Sam Mames Stadium in a fortnight. In what was a thrilling encounter, the Red Devils had actually opened the scoring through a poacher's goal from Wayne Rooney. But as United were trying to see out half time, Bilbao's Fernando Llorente had levelled with a powerful header that went beyond David United 'keeper de Gea on 44 minutes. In the second half Bilbao increasingly became the more dominant side. Oscar de Marcos clipped a left-footed volley scored behind De Gea to take the lead on 72 minutes. Even with United behind, Bilbao looked like they were more likely to score and disaster struck for United when Oscar de Marcos struck a low effort at Dea Gea which rebounded and when Rafael was too slow to react, Iker Muniain stepped in to make it 3-1 on 90 minutes. The Red Devils were then facing the prospect of needing three away goals in Spain but a late Wayne Rooney penalty, given for handball in stoppage time, reduced the near impossible task in a fortnight to just very tricky.