1997–98 Athletic Bilbao season

The previous season, Luis Fernández's first as head coach, was a successful one for Athletic, as their 6th-place finish in La Liga gained them a place in the 1997–98 UEFA Cup first round after a two-year exile from European competition.{{cite web |title=LaLiga 1996/1997 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain) |url=https://www.flashscore.co.uk/football/spain/laliga-1996-1997/standings/ |website=flashscore.co.uk |accessdate=23 November 2020}} The Frenchman's second La Liga campaign yielded even greater success: Bilbao finished as runners-up, behind only Barcelona, and qualified for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League.{{cite web |title=LaLiga 1997/1998 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain) |url=https://www.flashscore.co.uk/football/spain/laliga-1997-1998/standings/ |website=flashscore.co.uk |accessdate=23 November 2020}} This was their highest league finish, and first qualification for Europe's premier competition, since their last La Liga triumph in 1984.

They also had a good run in the Copa del Rey, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994–95. They were eliminated on away goals by eventual runners-up Mallorca.{{cite web |title=Fiesta en Palma |url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com./EMD03/HEM/1998/02/11/MD19980211-019.pdf |website=Mundo Deportivo |accessdate=23 November 2020}}

Athletic's UEFA Cup first round opponents were Sampdoria of Italy. The Spaniards took a valuable 2–1 win in the first leg in Genoa,{{cite web |title=Sampdoria-Athletic Club 1997 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54322/ |website=UEFA Europa League |accessdate=23 November 2020}} and secured passage to the second round with a 2–0 victory at San Mamés.{{cite web |title=Athletic Club-Sampdoria 1997 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54323/ |website=UEFA Europa League |accessdate=23 November 2020}} Their reward was a second round tie against Aston Villa of England, with the first leg in Bilbao finishing goalless.{{cite web |title=Athletic Club-Aston Villa 1997 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54488/ |website=UEFA Europa League|accessdate=23 November 2020}} The Birmingham side took a 2–0 lead just after half time at Villa Park, and a late goal from Javi González was not enough to prevent Athletic's elimination.{{cite web |title=Aston Villa-Athletic Club 1997 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54489 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614102237/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54489/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |website=UEFA Europa League|accessdate=23 November 2020}}

{{cite web |title=Athletic Bilbao » Squad 1997/1998 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/athletic-bilbao/1998/2/ |website=worldfootball.net |accessdate=23 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=Athletic Bilbao - 1997/98 |url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/spain/1997-1998/laliga/abilbao.htm |website=FootballSquads |accessdate=23 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Copa del Rey 1997/1998 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/athletic-bilbao/esp-copa-del-rey-1997-1998/ |website=worldfootball.net |accessdate=23 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Europa League 1997/1998 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/athletic-bilbao/uefa-cup-1997-1998/ |website=worldfootball.net |accessdate=23 November 2020}}

{{Efs start|La Liga|Copa del Rey|UEFA Cup}}

{{Efs player|no=1|name=Juan José Valencia

|pos=GK|nat=ESP| 0|0|4|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=4|name=Rafael Alkorta

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 29|1|3|0|2|0}}

{{Efs player|no=5|name=Óscar Tabuenka{{ref|a}}

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=6|name=Josu Urrutia

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 29+1|0|3+1|0|4|0}}

{{Efs player|no=7|name=Andoni Goikoetxea

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 0|0|0|0|0+2|0}}

{{Efs player|no=8|name=Julen Guerrero

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 25+4|8|3|0|0+1|0}}

{{Efs player|no=9|name=Cuco Ziganda

|pos=FW|nat=ESP| 19+16|3|2+1|1|3|1}}

{{Efs player|no=10|name=Aitor Larrazábal

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 28+4|7|2+2|0|3+1|1}}

{{Efs player|no=11|name=Jesús María Lacruz

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 7+10|0|1+1|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=12|name=Carlos García

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 33+1|2|4|0|3|0}}

{{Efs player|no=13|name=Imanol Etxeberria

|pos=GK|nat=ESP| 38|0|0|0|4|0}}

{{Efs player|no=14|name=José Mari

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 3+10|0|1+2|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=15|name=Patxi Ferreira

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 9+7|0|2|0|1|0}}

{{Efs player|no=16|name=Txomin Nagore

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 11+6|0|1+1|0|2|0}}

{{Efs player|no=17|name=Joseba Etxeberria

|pos=FW|nat=ESP| 35+1|11|3+1|1|3|0}}

{{Efs player|no=18|name=Bittor Alkiza

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 36+1|1|3|1|4|0}}

{{Efs player|no=19|name=Mikel Lasa

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 17+11|1|3|0|3+1|0}}

{{Efs player|no=20|name=Ismael Urzaiz

|pos=FW|nat=ESP| 23+9|8|2+1|2|2+1|0}}

{{Efs player|no=21|name=Iñigo Larrainzar

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 34|2|2+1|0|4|1}}

{{Efs player|no=22|name=Javi González

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 8+22|5|2+1|0|2+2|1}}

{{Efs player|no=24|name=Roberto Ríos

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 31+1|2|3|0|4|1}}

{{Efs player|no=25|name=Aitor Huegún

|pos=FW|nat=ESP| 0+1|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=26|name=Iñaki Lafuente

|pos=GK|nat=ESP| 0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=27|name=César

|pos=DF|nat=ESP| 0+1|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=28|name=Mario Bermejo

|pos=FW|nat=ESP| 0+1|0|0|0|0+2|0}}

{{Efs player|no=31|name=Gaizka Garitano

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=35|name=Jorge Pérez

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 3+4|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|name=Raúl Gil

|pos=MF|nat=ESP| 0|0|0|0|0|0}}

|}

:1.{{note|a}} Tabuenka was transferred to SD Compostela during the season.

{{main|1997–98 La Liga}}

{{:1997–98 La Liga|showteam=ATH}}

{{main|1997–98 UEFA Cup}}

{{football box collapsible

|result = W

|date = 16 September 1997

|time = 20:30

|team1 = Sampdoria {{flagicon|ITA}}

|score = 1–2

|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20210226035008/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54322/ Report]

|team2 = {{flagicon|ESP}} Athletic Bilbao

|goals1 = Boghossian {{goal|74}}

|goals2 = Ríos {{goal|19}}
Larrainzar {{goal|62}}

|stadium = Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa

|attendance = 36,000

|referee = Ahmet Çakar (Turkey)

}}

{{football box collapsible

|result = W

|date = 30 September 1997

|time = 20:30

|team1 = Athletic Bilbao {{flagicon|ESP}}

|score = 2–0

|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20200614121900/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54323/ Report]

|team2 = {{flagicon|ITA}} Sampdoria

|goals1 = Larrazábal {{goal|40|pen.}}
Ziganda {{goal|47}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao

|attendance = 42,000

|referee = Marc Batta (France)

}}

Athletic Bilbao won 4–1 on aggregate

{{football box collapsible

|result = D

|date = 21 October 1997

|time = 21:30

|team1 = Athletic Bilbao {{flagicon|ESP}}

|score = 0–0

|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20210226051557/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54488/ Report]

|team2 = {{flagicon|ENG}} Aston Villa

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao

|attendance = 42,500

|referee = Hartmut Strampe (Germany)

}}

{{football box collapsible

|result = L

|date = 4 November 1997

|time = 20:30

|team1 = Aston Villa {{flagicon|ENG}}

|score = 2–1

|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20200614102237/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/54489/ Report]

|team2 = {{flagicon|ESP}} Athletic Bilbao

|goals1 = Taylor {{goal|27}}
Yorke {{goal|50}}

|goals2 = González {{goal|70}}

|stadium = Villa Park, Birmingham

|attendance = 35,915

|referee = S. Piller (Hungary)

}}

Aston Villa won 2–1 on aggregate

• 1997–98 Copa del Rey
• Athletic Bilbao in European football

• {{Official website|http://www.athletic-club.net/}} {{in lang|en|eu|es}}

{{reflist}}

{{Athletic Bilbao seasons}}

{{1997–98 in Spanish football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 Athletic Bilbao season}}

Athletic Bilbao

Category:Athletic Bilbao seasons

Category:1997 in the Basque Country (autonomous community)

Category:1998 in the Basque Country (autonomous community)