1997–98 Athletic Bilbao season

The 1997–98 season was the 97th season in Athletic Bilbao's history and their 67th consecutive season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.

Athletic Bilbao
1997–98 season
PresidentJosé María Arrate
Head coachLuis Fernández
StadiumSan Mamés
La Liga2nd
Copa del ReyQuarterfinals
UEFA Cup2nd round
Top goalscorerLeague: Joseba Etxeberria, 11[1]
All: Joseba Etxeberria, 13

Season summary

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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

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,[5] and secured passage to the second round with a 2–0 victory at San Mamés.[6] Their reward was a second round tie against Aston Villa of England, with the first leg in Bilbao finishing goalless.[7] 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.[8]

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[1][9][10][11][12]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalLa LigaCopa del ReyUEFA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Spain ESP Juan José Valencia 40004000
4 DF Spain ESP Rafael Alkorta 3412913020
5 DF Spain ESP Óscar Tabuenka 00000000
6 MF Spain ESP Josu Urrutia 38029+103+1040
7 MF Spain ESP Andoni Goikoetxea 2000000+20
8 MF Spain ESP Julen Guerrero 33825+48300+10
9 FW Spain ESP Cuco Ziganda 41519+1632+1131
10 DF Spain ESP Aitor Larrazábal 40828+472+203+11
11 DF Spain ESP Jesús María Lacruz 1907+1001+1000
12 DF Spain ESP Carlos García 41233+124030
13 GK Spain ESP Imanol Etxeberria 4203800040
14 MF Spain ESP José Mari 1603+1001+2000
15 DF Spain ESP Patxi Ferreira 1909+702010
16 MF Spain ESP Txomin Nagore 21011+601+1020
17 FW Spain ESP Joseba Etxeberria 431235+1113+1130
18 MF Spain ESP Bittor Alkiza 44236+113140
19 DF Spain ESP Mikel Lasa 35117+111303+10
20 FW Spain ESP Ismael Urzaiz 381023+982+122+10
21 DF Spain ESP Iñigo Larrainzar 4133422+1041
22 MF Spain ESP Javi González 3768+2252+102+21
24 DF Spain ESP Roberto Ríos 39331+123041
25 FW Spain ESP Aitor Huegún 100+100000
26 GK Spain ESP Iñaki Lafuente 00000000
27 DF Spain ESP César 100+100000
28 FW Spain ESP Mario Bermejo 300+10000+20
31 MF Spain ESP Gaizka Garitano 00000000
35 MF Spain ESP Jorge Pérez 703+400000
MF Spain ESP Raúl Gil 00000000
1.^ Tabuenka was transferred to SD Compostela during the season.[10]

Results

La Liga
Main article: 1997–98 La Liga

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Barcelona (C) 38 23 5 10 78 56 +22 74 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Athletic Bilbao 38 17 14 7 52 42 +10 65 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Real Sociedad 38 16 15 7 60 37 +23 63[lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Real Madrid 38 17 12 9 63 45 +18 63[lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the Champions League group stage[lower-alpha 2]
5 Mallorca 38 16 12 10 55 39 +16 60[lower-alpha 3] Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 4]
Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. RMA 2–0 RSO; RSO 4–2 RMA
  2. Real Madrid was qualified directly for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League as holders.
  3. MLL: 9 pts; CEL: 5 pts; ATM: 2 pts
  4. Since Barcelona, winners of 1997–98 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists RCD Mallorca earned a spot in the first round of the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

UEFA Cup
Main article: 1997–98 UEFA Cup

First round
16 September 1997 Sampdoria Italy 1–2 Spain Athletic Bilbao Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
20:30 Boghossian 74' Report Ríos 19'
Larrainzar 62'		 Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Ahmet Çakar (Turkey)
30 September 1997 Athletic Bilbao Spain 2–0 Italy Sampdoria San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
20:30 Larrazábal 40' (pen.)
Ziganda 47'		 Report Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Marc Batta (France)

Athletic Bilbao won 4–1 on aggregate

Second round
21 October 1997 Athletic Bilbao Spain 0–0 England Aston Villa San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
21:30 Report Attendance: 42,500
Referee: Hartmut Strampe (Germany)
4 November 1997 Aston Villa England 2–1 Spain Athletic Bilbao Villa Park, Birmingham
20:30 Taylor 27'
Yorke 50'		 Report González 70' Attendance: 35,915
Referee: S. Piller (Hungary)

Aston Villa won 2–1 on aggregate

See also

References
  1. "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Primera División 1997/1998". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  2. "LaLiga 1996/1997 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain)". flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  3. "LaLiga 1997/1998 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain)". flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. "Fiesta en Palma" (PDF). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. "Sampdoria-Athletic Club 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  6. "Athletic Club-Sampdoria 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. "Athletic Club-Aston Villa 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  8. "Aston Villa-Athletic Club 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  9. "Athletic Bilbao » Squad 1997/1998". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  10. "Athletic Bilbao - 1997/98". FootballSquads. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  11. "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Copa del Rey 1997/1998". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  12. "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Europa League 1997/1998". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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