Atletico Madrid - Athletic Bilbao Preview: Bucharest set for all-Spanish Europa League final

Pre Match
May 9, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Arena Națională — București
Referee:‬ W. Stark‎

Team News

Atletico Madrid

 

Tiago is suspended for the Europa League final after receiving a straight red card in the semi-final second leg tie against Valencia. Mario Suarez should play alongside Gabi in defensive midfield.

 

Antonio Lopez has been out for much of the season through injury, but is back in training once again. However, he is unlikely to feature here, though.

Silvio remains absent, and Fran Merida is cup-tied.

 

Diego Simeone did not rest any of his key players for the win over Malaga at the weekend as he chases fourth place in the league, so his players will only have had a few days rest before the Europa League final.

 

Probable lineups : Courtois, Luis, Miranda, Gocin, Juanfran, Suarez, Gabi, Turan, Diego, Adrian, Falcao. (4-2-3-1).  

Valencia CF vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Picking up a win at Valencia may just be too much to ask

UEFA Europa League Semifinal 2rd Leg 2011/12
April 26, 2012 8:05 PM BST
Estadio de Mestalla — Valencia
Referee:‬ D. Skomina‎

Team News

Valencia 

Roberto Soldado has been carrying a knock lately and may be a minor doubt for this game, however with Valencia in would like of goals during this tie, he's terribly doubtless to be risked nonetheless.

Sergio Canales came back from a significant injury in midweek and will feature here to produce some further attacking intent. Ever Banega remains injured and can not feature. Valencia have eight players who are one yellow card off from a eu suspension.

 

Probable lineups : Alves, Alba, Rami, Ruiz, Costa, Costa, Topal, Mathieu, Jonas, Feghouli, Soldado. (4-2-3-1).

Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting Lisbon Preview: Tactician Marcelo Bielsa are going to be guaranteed to have his aspect clued up on a way to take down this Sporting aspect

UEFA Europa League Semifinal 2rd Leg 2011/12
April 26, 2012 8:05 PM BST
Estadio San Mamés — Bilbao
Referee:‬ M. Atkinson‎

Team News

Athletic Bilbao

Athletic have Javi Martinez back from suspension, therefore he can come back straight into the beginning XI, either at centre-back or in midfield, as Oscar de Marcos is himself suspended for this game. If Martinez plays in midfield, Mikel San Jose may play in defence, whereas Toquero may be a straight swap for de Marcos.

Gurpegi, Castillo, Ocio and Perez all stay absent through injury. San Jose, Iturraspe, Munian and Ander are one yellow card off from missing the ultimate, ought to Athletic get there.

 

Probable lineups : Iraizoz, Aurtenetxe, Martinez, Amorebieta, Iraola, Ander, Iturraspe, Muniain, Toquero, Susaeta, Llorente. (4-2-3-1). 

Sporting Lisbon vs Athletic Bilbao Preview: UEFA Europa League Semifinal 1st Leg 2011/12

Bielsa will certainly have done his research on his side's Portuguese opponents, and they have spring a huge surprise in their latest Europa League games

April 19, 2012 8:05 PM BST
Estádio José Alvalade — Lisboa

Team News

Sporting CP

 

Sporting have been revitalised since sacking Domingos Paciencia and replacing him with Ricardo Sa Pinto in Feburary. The new manager has led the side to 6 wins in 8 league games and knocked Manchester City and Metalist Kharkiv out of the competition.

 

Elias is still ineligible in the Europa League and could be replaced in midfield by Daniel Carrico or Andre Martins.

 

Anderson Polga, Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Marat Izmailov, Andre Carrillo and Fabian Rinaudo are all one yellow card away from a European suspension, though no Sporting players are out of this game for disciplinary reasons.

 

probable lineups : Patricio, Insúa, Polga, Xandao, Pereira, Carrico, Schaars, Fernandez, Capel, Wolfswinkel, Izmailov. (4-3-3). 

Atletico Madrid vs Valencia CF Preview: UEFA Europa Cup Semifinal 1st Leg 2011/12

Unai Emery may well head to the capital with the aim of keeping the tie within their grasp before the return leg, and would probably be happy with a loss by a single goal

April 19, 2012 8:05 PM BST
Estadio Vicente Calderón — Madrid

Team News

Atletico Madrid

 

Diego Simeone has Juanfran, Gabi and Arda Turan all back from suspension, but is now without key centre-back Diego Godin, who has picked up 3 yellow cards in the knockout stages and is therefore suspended.

 

Arda is pushing to return to the starting lineup, but he may be the only one of the returning trio who does not make it back in.

 

Long-term absentees Silvio and Antonio Lopez both remain out. Diego, Miranda and Luis Perea are all in a position where a yellow card would mean a suspension for the second leg. 

 

probable lineups : Courtois, Luis, Miranda, Domínguez, Juanfran, Tiago, Gabi, Koke, Diego, Adrián, Falcao. (4-2-3-1).

Hannover 96 vs Atletico Madrid Preview match: UEFA-Europa League 2011/12

April 5, 2012 8:05 PM BST
AWD-Arena — Hannover

Team News

Hannover 96

 

Leon Andreasen remains a doubt for Hannover after again missing the action this weekend. Mohammed Abdellaoue was rested for much of the impressive win over Gladbach at the weekend, and he will be fresh to make a return to the starting lineup. Karim Haggui is another that could come back in at centre-back, but Eggimann and Pogatetz have started the last 3 games together and may do so again.

probable lineups : Zieler, Pander, Pogatetz, Eggimann. Cherundolo, Rausch, Stindl, Pinto, Schlaudraff, Abdellaoue, Diouf. (4-4-2).  

Athletic Bilbao vs Schalke 04 Preview match: UEFA-Europa League 2011/12

April 5, 2012 8:05 PM BST
Estadio San Mamés — Bilbao

Team News

Athletic Bilbao

 

Ander Iturraspe is suspended after receiving his 3rd yellow card of the season in the Europa League last time out. Oscar De Marcos has been played in defensive midfield fairly often this season, and so he should fill in there, with Ander coming in behind Fernando Llorente. Javi Martinez may also play in midfield. Llorente has been struggling with a niggle recently and was rested for a full hour in the defeat at Barcelona at the weekend, so he should be fresh to start here. Coach Marcelo Bielsa is still without the injured Carlos Gurpegi, while Igor Martinez is a serious doubt.

Schalke - Athletic Bilbao Preview Match : UEFA Eropa League 2011/2011

The Basque club travel to Gelsenkirchen looking for an away goal

March 29, 2012 8:05 PM BST
Veltins-Arena — Gelsenkirchen
Referee:‬ Pedro Garcia Proenca‎

Team News

Schalke 04

Timo Hildebrand will continue between the posts with Lars Unnerstall still injured.
Benedikt Howedes has not played in nearly 4 weeks, so Uchida should continue at right back. Manager Stevens has a consistency about his team selection, especially given current injuries, and could well field his usual starting XI here.

Atletico Madrid vs Hannover 96 Preview Match : UEFA Europa League 2011/2012

Diego Simeone's men welcome Germans at the Vicente Calderon

March 29, 2012 8:05 PM BST
Estadio Vicente Calderón — Madrid
Referee:‬ S. Lannoy‎

Team News

Atletico Madrid 

Atletico are only without Antonio Lopez and Silvio for this Europa League quarter final first leg. Tiago missed the game at Zaragoza at the weekend due to injury, but has returned to training and is in line to start this match. Arda Turan has also made a successful return from injury, completing 90 minutes against Zaragoza, and could play again here. Diego came off the bench after recently recovering from injury, and should start behind goal-machine Falcao.