Basque-ing in Bilbao

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APRIL

Bilbao wrap up another title
Through to another Champions League final also
Real Madrid beat Malaga in the Copa del Rey final
Herrera player of the year and Garmendia is the young player of the year

Another year and another title in the bag! Hopefully we can add another Champions League to that when we play Chelsea in the final! A good month overall as we found our scoring touch again and averaged 3 goals a game for the month. We wrapped up the title with the win against Elche so we have 3 games where we can play some younger players.

UEFA Champions League QF 1st Leg
Paris St.Germain 3-4 Athletic Bilbao
Garcia, Muniain, Hondo N'Dongo, Gutierrez

Deportivo La Coruna 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
Herrera

UEFA Champions League QF 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Paris St.Germain
Sakho (og), Garmendia, Herrera, Muniain

Real Madrid 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Sanz

Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Malaga
Garmendia, Herrera, Izurza

Cadiz 0-2 Athletic Bilbao
Garmendia, Garcia

UEFA Champions League SF 1st Leg
Valencia 2-2 Athletic Bilbao
Cidoncha, Garcia

Athletic Bilbao 6-0 Elche
Izurza 3, Gutierrez, Hondo N'Dongo, Sanz

UEFA Champions League SF 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Valencia
Sanz 2, Herrera, Garmendia

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
ANGEL DE LA TORRE
View attachment 250347
(deserved as played every game this month and played really well)

View attachment 250348​
 
Well done on another title win. How many is that now? What is your total honours at the club?
 
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MAY - END OF SEASON

Chelsea beaten on penalties by Bilbao for another Champions League win
Fermin Garcia wants a new challenge and will leave the club
Pedro Jose Cidoncha also requests to leave
Bilbao B raleigh to finish just outside the play-offs

A satisfactory end to the season with the last 3 league games pointless really. It was all about the Champions League final and we completely dominated but Chelsea resisted just like in real life. This time however we kept our nerve in the shoot-out and 17 y/o Gontzal Ruiz scored the decisive penalty.

Fermin Garcia has requested to leave the club for a new challenge unfortunately. Alfredo will take his place but there is no stand out forward coming through I dont think. Just about cried when Cidoncha asked to leave but I asked him to reconsider (havent done that with the others previously) and he did! THANK GOD. Vinas is a ready made replacement for him but dont want Cidoncha to go just yet if ever.

Lets hope Aitor isnt getting any similar ideas..........

Real Oviedo 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Gutierrez

Athletic Bilbao 4-1 Espanyol
Herrera 2, Izurza, Gutierrez

Valencia 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Izurza

UEFA Champions League Final
Chelsea 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Herrera
(aet Athletic Bilbao won 4-2 on penalties)

PLAYER OF THE SEASON
AITOR HERRERA
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SPAIN

PRE WORLD CUP FRIENDLIES

Egypt 0-2 Spain
Sanz 2

Spain 1-0 Ivory Coast
Garcia


SQUAD

Goalkeepers
David (Athletic Bilbao) - 39 caps
Lima (WBA) - 1
Suarez (Real Sociedad) - 1

Defenders
Horacio Liendo (Real Betis) - 19
Angel De la Torre (Athletic Bilbao) - 72/1
Ander Valcarcel (Athletic Bilbao) - 3/1
Oceano Hondo N'Dongo (Athletic Bilbao) - 38/5
Gontzal Ruiz (Athletic Bilbao) - 3
Josep Granell (Borussia Dortmund) - 26
Roberto Gomez (Sevilla) - 24/3

MIDFIELDERS
Pedro Jose Cidoncha (Athletic Bilbao) - 100/10
Andoni Santano (Roma) - 62/12
Oscar Pablo Cano (Real Madrid) - 40/4
Aitor Herrera (Athletic Bilbao) - 150/48
Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao) - 161/59
Jose Luis Izurza (Athletic Bilbao) - 10
Unai Garmendia (Athletic Bilbao) - 5
Isidro Jesus Ordonez Lopez (Sevilla) - 18/1
Martin Ruiz (Real Madrid) - 21
Ander Ibanez (Atletico Madrid) - 11/2

FORWARDS
Fermin Garcia (Athletic Bilbao) - 103/71
Jose Carlos Sanz (Athletic Bilbao) - 72/14
Alan Barreto (Braga) - 2

Missing Out - De Gea (Man Utd), Barandiaran, Gutierrez, Perez Villarroya, Alfredo (Athletic Bilbao), Juan Carlos (Napoli), Muralha (Valladolid), Rodriguez (Galatasaray), Albert (Caen), Sanchez de la Calle (Almeria)

Fairly happy with my squad although wasnt sure whether or not to pick the striker Barreto or another defender. Gutted that Perez Villarroya and Alfredo misses out but hey ho. ​
 
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WORLD CUP 2026 (in Mexico)

Group B

Spain 3-1 Russia
Cano 2, Gomez

Line Up: David, Liendo, Hondo N'Dongo, Gomez, De la Torre, Santano (Garmendia), Cidoncha (M.Ruiz), Muniain (Izurza), Herrera, Cano*, Garcia

A fine start to the tournament as we were 3 up at half time. On paper this was my hardest group fixture so pleased with this commanding result and performance, Just noticed that Scotland and England are in the same group!

Senegal 0-2 Australia

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Australia 0-6 Spain
Anderson (og), Garcia, Cano, Hondo N'Dongo, Herrera, Barreto

Line Up: David, Liendo (G.Ruiz), Hondo N'Dongo, Gomez, De la Torre, Santano, Cidoncha (Ordonez Lopez), Muniain, Herrera*, Cano, Garcia (Barreto)

Fantastic! Was 5-0 up at half time so slightly disappointed by the fact that we only scored once in the second half. Qualified for the next stage now. (England beat Scotland 3-0)

Senegal 1-1 Russia

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Senegal 1-5 Spain
Valcarcel, Izurza, Garcia, Herrera, Fall (og)

Line Up: David, G.Ruiz, Hondo N'Dongo, Valcarcel, De la Torre, Garmendia (Ordonez Lopez), M.Ruiz, Izurza, Herrera*, Cano (Ibanez), Garcia (Barreto)

Another great performance and result - especially because I changed the team around a bit with 5 players coming into the side. Up against the hosts (Mexico) in the next round.

Australia 1-1 Russia

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​
 
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WORLD CUP 2026

1st Round

Mexico 0-1 Spain
Muniain

Line Up: David, Liendo (G.Ruiz), Hondo N'Dongo*, Gomez, De la Torre, Santano, Cidoncha, Muniain, Herrera (Sanz), Cano (Ibanez), Garcia

More comfortable than the scoreline suggests this. Took the lead in the 1st half and despite dominating we couldnt finish them off as in previous games. Aitor Herrera picked up a slight knock too.

Argentina up next. ******!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Romania 2-0 Australia
Croatia 1-2 Argentina
USA 1-2 Germany
Scotland 1-2 France
Turkey 0-1 England
Belgium 1-3 Holland
Ukraine 2-0 Honduras​
 
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WORLD CUP 2026

QUARTER FINALS

Spain 4-2 Argentina
Santano, Castro (og), Cano, Garmendia

Line Up: David, Liendo (Granell), Hondo N'Dongo (Valcarcel), Gomez, De la Torre, Santano (Garmendia), Cidoncha, Muniain, Herrera, Cano*, Garcia

Phew!! Was cruising when we went 2-0 up in the first ten minutes but we were pegged back level on the hour. Then made 3 subs and Garmendia scored straight away for the winner - or so I thought - never noticed our 3rd goal go in when doing my tactical changes!

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Romania 1-2 Germany
England 2-1 Holland
France 1-1 Ukraine
(aet Ukraine won on pens)
​
 


WORLD CUP 2026

SEMI FINALS

Spain 2-1 England
Gomez, Santano

Line Up: David, Liendo, Hondo N'Dongo, Gomez, De la Torre, Santano, Cidoncha, Muniain (Izurza), Herrera, Cano (Ibanez), Garcia (Sanz)

Through to the final we go! All the goals came in the first half with us going ahead before England got a penalty. With 20min to go England went down to ten men so we saw it out easily enough. Unfortunately Hondo N'Dongo and Santano will miss the final.

Germany 2-0 Ukraine​
 


WORLD CUP 2026

FINAL

Germany 1-2 Spain (AET)
Gomez, Cano

Line Up: David, Liendo*, Valcarcel (G.Ruiz), Gomez, De la Torre, Garmendia, Cidoncha, Muniain (Izurza), Herrera, Cano, Garcia (Sanz)

Germany: Demuth, Lechleiter, Gotz, Rott, Thiele, Nowicki (Lechner), Khalili (Guoming), Greiner (Grundei), Vollmann, Balasas, Kuez

Victory! An even contest this. Valcarcel got taken off injured at half time but his defensive partner Gomez scored his 3rd goal of the competition to put us ahead. Having made all 3 subs we were seeing out time when De la Torre got injured with 5min left and we were down to ten men. Needless to say we got punished when Balasas score 2min into stoppage time.

Extra time with 10 men was a struggle but we broke away and Cano struck his 4th goal of the competition to pt us ahead but even then we went down to 9 men when Izurza got injured! This time we held on though.

3rd PLACE PLAY-OFF
Ukraine 0-2 England

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT - Aitor Herrera
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT - Jose Luis Izurza
BEST GOALKEEPER - David
GOLDEN BOOT - Ryan Vink (Holland)

TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
David (Spain)
Liendo (Spain)
De la Torre (Spain)
Gomez (Spain)
Hondo N'Dongo (Spain)
Imbert (France)
Cano (Spain)
Herrera (Spain)
Santano (Spain)
Vink (Holland)
Ungureanu (Romania)

(G.Ruiz and Muniain were named on the subs bench)
​
 
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(ex manager Howard Kendall)

PRE SEASON - AUGUST

Fermin Garcia departs for Atletico Madrid
Roberto Gomez returns and wants to stay - not so Ordonez Lopez
Valencia the big spenders this summer - Real Madrid sell a few
Spanish and European Super Cups won
Champions League group sees Bilbao face up to Manchester City for the billionth time!

AIMS
Wouldnt mind winning the Copa del Rey back!
Go another season unbeaten at home

PLAYERS IN
Two stand out regens. Central defender Torres came in from Chelsea for £2m and CM Abel from Atletico Madrid for £1.6m. Also signed a 15 y/o striker who looks promising. Also got a few others in.
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TOTAL SPENT:£5.25m

PLAYERS OUT
Fermin Garcia is off to Atletico Madrid for £30m. He made 432 apps and scored 322 goals. Perez Ostos also left the B team for Atletico Madrid for £5m. Borja Martinez Cid and Ismael Bilbao were sold and Jon Aurtenetxe (441/11) got released and he promptly retired! Ordonez Lopez, Salazar and Barandiaran were all loaned out for fees.
TOTAL INCOME: £45m

SUMMARY
Much changes! 2 players came up from the B team - Mikel Martin as backup keeper and Jon Bergara to replace Salazar as backup LB. Ruiz, Izurza and Alfredo will be 1st picks this season also. Gomez returns to battle it out with Valcarcel to play at CB with Hondo N'Dongo and Rodriguez returns also to feature in the 1st team squad.

I have also decided to go on a permanent holiday with the B team as wasnt enjoying it. At least this way they will still play the same formation. Incidentally their wage budget is £45k and the squad is on £250k per week!


Spanish Super Cup Final 1st Leg
Real Madrid 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Izurza

2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Madrid
Herrera
(Athletic Bilbao win on away goals)

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Real Betis
Alfredo 2

UEFA European Super Cup Final
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Lyon
Izurza 2

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SPAIN

Friendly

Spain 4-0 Northern Ireland
Garcia 2, Cidoncha, Perez Villarroya
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Ungureanu (Romania) show him please. which place romania got this WC?​
 
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SEPTEMBER

Real Madrid and Bilbao draw the same day as Barca lose
Manchester City beaten away from home
Muniain, David, Cidoncha among the players to be missing through injury
Spain beaten at home by Portugal but thump Finland

A very tough month fixture wise but we came through unscathed. Great win over Valencia started the month off well. Had a thriller against Man City where we through away the lead twice before grabbing a late winner. Against Real we were 1 up but threw it away and salvaged a point through Aitor's last minute goal.

Valencia 0-4 Athletic Bilbao
Hondo N'Dongo, Garmendia, Herrera, Gutierrez

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Espanyol
Perez Villarroya, Gomez

UEFA Champions League Group F
Manchester City 2-3 Athletic Bilbao
Perez Villarroya, Alfredo 2

Real Madrid 2-2 Athletic Bilbao
Vinas (pen), Herrera

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Sporting Gijon
Alfredo 2

Malaga 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
Vinas (pen), Perez Villarroya

UEFA Champions League Group F
Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Lech Poznan
Valcarcel 2, Sanz 2

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
GASPAR PEREZ VILLARROYA
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SPAIN

Friendly
Spain 0-2 Portugal

Euro Championship Quals Group A
Finland 0-4 Spain
Izurza, Garcia 3​
 
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I've followed this all the way through; I just haven't commented up to now. All I can say is great story, it's fantastic to see you going for so long. Just a quick question; do you have any suggestions for teams in Spain? They don't have to be a massive club - just somebody with a decent team and decent finances (and possibly a good stadium?) Cheers. Again, great story and great effort.
 
ZeCarlos said:
I've followed this all the way through; I just haven't commented up to now. All I can say is great story, it's fantastic to see you going for so long. Just a quick question; do you have any suggestions for teams in Spain? They don't have to be a massive club - just somebody with a decent team and decent finances (and possibly a good stadium?) Cheers. Again, great story and great effort.
Click to expand...

Cheers. Malaga have the finances obviously and a few decent young players. Deportivo are in the 2nd division so thats worth a punt trying to get them up or if u have a summer update you could try and get Villarreal promoted.
 
KLIPPYBO said:
Cheers. Malaga have the finances obviously and a few decent young players. Deportivo are in the 2nd division so thats worth a punt trying to get them up or if u have a summer update you could try and get Villarreal promoted.
Click to expand...

Right, thanks mate. Nice story, keep it up. :)
 
Hello

I know i have threatened this many times before but this time i am gonna stick to it (i think lol). My Newcastle save will start after the euros more than likely so loads more transfers will be done (got LFCMarshalls database but have taken it over so to speak for my own save - I have already done many foreign leagues). Loaded up one the other day and with all the free transfers it was far too easy so Bilbao it is for a while yet.
 
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