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.
| 1997–98 season | |
|---|---|
 Squad photograph, August 1997 | |
| President | José María Arrate |
| Head coach | Luis Fernández |
| Stadium | San Mamés |
| La Liga | 2nd |
| Copa del Rey | Quarterfinals |
| UEFA Cup | 2nd round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Joseba Etxeberria, 11[1] All: Joseba Etxeberria, 13 |
Season summary edit
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 edit
Appearances and goals edit
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | La Liga | Copa del Rey | UEFA Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK |  ESP
|
Juan José Valencia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ESP
|
Rafael Alkorta | 34 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ESP
|
Óscar Tabuenka[1] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ESP
|
Josu Urrutia | 38 | 0 | 29+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ESP
|
Andoni Goikoetxea | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ESP
|
Julen Guerrero | 33 | 8 | 25+4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ESP
|
Cuco Ziganda | 41 | 5 | 19+16 | 3 | 2+1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | ESP
|
Aitor Larrazábal | 40 | 8 | 28+4 | 7 | 2+2 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 |
| 11 | DF | ESP
|
Jesús María Lacruz | 19 | 0 | 7+10 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ESP
|
Carlos García | 41 | 2 | 33+1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ESP
|
Imanol Etxeberria | 42 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ESP
|
José Mari | 16 | 0 | 3+10 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ESP
|
Patxi Ferreira | 19 | 0 | 9+7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ESP
|
Txomin Nagore | 21 | 0 | 11+6 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ESP
|
Joseba Etxeberria | 43 | 12 | 35+1 | 11 | 3+1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ESP
|
Bittor Alkiza | 44 | 2 | 36+1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | ESP
|
Mikel Lasa | 35 | 1 | 17+11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ESP
|
Ismael Urzaiz | 38 | 10 | 23+9 | 8 | 2+1 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | ESP
|
Iñigo Larrainzar | 41 | 3 | 34 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 22 | MF | ESP
|
Javi González | 37 | 6 | 8+22 | 5 | 2+1 | 0 | 2+2 | 1 |
| 24 | DF | ESP
|
Roberto Ríos | 39 | 3 | 31+1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 25 | FW | ESP
|
Aitor Huegún | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | ESP
|
Iñaki Lafuente | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | ESP
|
César | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | ESP
|
Mario Bermejo | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | ESP
|
Gaizka Garitano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | ESP
|
Jorge Pérez | 7 | 0 | 3+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MF | ESP
|
Raúl Gil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
- 1.^ Tabuenka was transferred to SD Compostela during the season.[10]
Results edit
La Liga edit
League table edit
| 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[a] | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Real Madrid | 38 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 63 | 45 | +18 | 63[a] | Qualification for the Champions League group stage[b] |
| 5 | Mallorca | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 55 | 39 | +16 | 60[c] | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[d] |
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:
- ^ a b RMA 2–0 RSO; RSO 4–2 RMA
- ^ Real Madrid was qualified directly for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League as holders.
- ^ MLL: 9 pts; CEL: 5 pts; ATM: 2 pts
- ^ 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 edit
First round edit
| 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 edit
| 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 edit
External links edit
- Official website (in English, Basque, and Spanish)
References edit
- ^ a b "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Primera División 1997/1998". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "LaLiga 1996/1997 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain)". flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "LaLiga 1997/1998 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain)". flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Fiesta en Palma" (PDF). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Sampdoria-Athletic Club 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Athletic Club-Sampdoria 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Athletic Club-Aston Villa 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Aston Villa-Athletic Club 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Squad 1997/1998". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Athletic Bilbao - 1997/98". FootballSquads. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Copa del Rey 1997/1998". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Europa League 1997/1998". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.