ROAR OF THE LIONS – Things are going well for Athletic Club

By Sam Hughes
Updated: 19 January, 2012

LEVANTE WIN AND THE POSSIBILITY OF EUROPE

On Sunday, Athletic Club took a giant stride in La Liga. Beating high-fliers Levante 3-0 – and playing some of their best football of the season so far – was a huge result.

It takes them to within three points of a top four place, so does Europe beckon? Champions League even? I am sure those in and around the club would accept a Europa League place, but who knows how far they could go?

A run of form, a glut of goals from Llorente, a bit of luck; any of these could happen and each would make that European place much more attainable as the season wears on.

The achievement of just getting into those European places cannot be understated. When those that usually achieve these feats each season spend obscene amounts of money or are established giants of the game, it just shows how sticking to your principles as a club can be a positive.

The club’s youth system has to take a lot of credit for the way it has continually developed and produced players. For any club across the world, this takes time, effort as well as a huge slice of luck.

But, when you take into consideration the club’s stance on their Basque-only policy, the pressure on that system to consistently keep a production line going is intense, to say the least.

FERNANDO LLORENTE

Fernando Llorente is finally on target again! He scored his first goal since early November in the 3-0 win over Levante, and then made it two goals in two games with a header in the Copa del Rey first-leg against Mallorca.

It seems he has that confidence in front of goal once more, and Bielsa will be delighted to see his main man back on the score sheet.

Athletic Club need him firing on all cylinders as they try to break into the top four, and with Llorente playing with confidence and scoring goals, would anyone not be confident of that actually happening?

ATHLETIC 2-0 MALLORCA AND COPA DEL REY CHANCES?

Athletic Bilbao extended their six-year unbeaten home record in the Copa del Rey, and will be firm favourites to progress ahead of the return leg after the 2-0 victory over Mallorca at San Mames.

Fernando Llorente, continued his recovery in front of goal, heading home a dinked Oscar De Marcos cross to make it 1-0 in the 35th minute as Athletic Club dominated Mallorca at the San Mames.

Muniain, the wonderfully talented young forward, also got himself in on the act, angling a perfectly measured header into the top corner just before the hour mark. Mallorca tried their utmost to grab an away goal, but Athletic’s defence was in no mood to be generous and stood firm.

The two-goal advantage gives Athletic a glorious chance of claiming a trophy by the end of the season. Should they progress, it is either Espanyol or Mirandes in the quarter-finals and, with Barcelona and Real Madrid facing each other, Bielsa will surely fancy his side’s chances of making it all the way to the final.