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 Juan José Valencia 40004000
4 DF Rafael Alkorta 3412913020
5 DF Óscar Tabuenka 00000000
6 MF Josu Urrutia 38029+103+1040
7 MF Andoni Goikoetxea 2000000+20
8 MF Julen Guerrero 33825+48300+10
9 FW Cuco Ziganda 41519+1632+1131
10 DF Aitor Larrazábal 40828+472+203+11
11 DF Jesús María Lacruz 1907+1001+1000
12 DF Carlos García 41233+124030
13 GK Imanol Etxeberria 4203800040
14 MF José Mari 1603+1001+2000
15 DF Patxi Ferreira 1909+702010
16 MF Txomin Nagore 21011+601+1020
17 FW Joseba Etxeberria 431235+1113+1130
18 MF Bittor Alkiza 44236+113140
19 DF Mikel Lasa 35117+111303+10
20 FW Ismael Urzaiz 381023+982+122+10
21 DF Iñigo Larrainzar 4133422+1041
22 MF Javi González 3768+2252+102+21
24 DF Roberto Ríos 39331+123041
25 FW Aitor Huegún 100+100000
26 GK Iñaki Lafuente 00000000
27 DF César 100+100000
28 FW Mario Bermejo 300+10000+20
31 MF Gaizka Garitano 00000000
35 MF Jorge Pérez 703+400000
MF 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) Champion.
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 1–2 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 2–0 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 0–0 Aston Villa San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
21:30 Report Attendance: 42,500
Referee: Hartmut Strampe (Germany)
4 November 1997 Aston Villa 2–1 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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