Gomez Ibai (41 mins)
Markel Susaeta (55 mins)
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (28 mins)
Gonzalez Raul (52 mins)
UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final - Second Leg
, Apr 5, 2012
Ground: San Mames
, Kickoff: 20:05 , Att 40,000
Team news
Schalke travel in positive mood Schalke have not given up altogether on their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League as they bid to overturn a 4-2 deficit against Athletic Bilbao in Spain.
The Spaniards, who accounted for Manchester United in the last round and who have proven to be one of the positive revelations in Europe this season, have more than one foot in the last four after their emphatic victory in Gelsenkirchen last Thursday.
But Schalke are not going to Bilbao just to make up the numbers, according to their director of sport Horst Heldt.
"It is not only about fulfilling an obligation in turning up," he said. "We are here to deliver a good game to the fans who will follow us.
"In view of the first leg, we must be humble, but not when we get on the field.
"The lads are still blue in the face when they think of the first leg, but we don't want to come out with wild proclamations - the focus is on the game and we have got to have the right answers then." A year ago to the day, Schalke beat Inter Milan 5-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and that result gives Heldt belief that history can repeat itself.
"I don't really believe in miracles, but that is not a bad omen, and I do like to believe in good omens," he said on his club's website.
While Schalke refuse to believe the tie is over, Athletic are not taking anything for granted either.
"We have got to show the maximum respect for them," said midfielder Markel Susaeta to reporters. "Schalke only need half a chance to score a goal.
"They have to score three, but if they score a goal first, then it could make things complicated.
"They have great strikers like (Jefferson) Farfan, (Klaas Jan) Huntelaar and Raul and we cannot underestimate them." Athletic can reach the second semi-final of a European competition for the first time since losing the UEFA Cup final to Juventus in 1977.
"We know this is a chance for us to make history," said Susaeta, who is a likely starter for Marcelo Bielsa.
The Argentinian coach is without the suspended Ander Iturraspe, however.
Schalke have made the trip without Christian Fuchs and Julian Draxler, who are injured, meaning Spanish full-back Sergio Escudero could start.
Athletic Bilbao vs Schalke 04
Last modified 22:12 05/04/12
Bilbao through after testing draw Athletic Bilbao advanced to the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 6-4 aggregate win over Schalke, although they were tested to the limit in a 2-2 draw at San Mames.
Trailing 4-2 from the quarter-final first leg, Schalke twice took the lead on the night through Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Raul.
But the home side replied with strikes from Ibai Gomez and Markel Susaeta to secure a draw which earned them an aggregate victory and a last-four meeting with Sporting Lisbon.
Bilbao threatened first with an eighth-minute header from Iker Muniain which warmed the palms of visiting goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall.
Schalke responded almost instantly with a testing volley from Huntelaar, which had to be tipped over the bar at full stretch by Gorka Iraizoz in the Bilbao goal.
The German side seemed to take confidence from the effort, and Lewis Holtby also gave Iraizoz something to think about with a long-range left-footed drive which was well held by the goalkeeper.
Huntelaar then put a header over from a few yards out after a corner from Jose Manuel Jurado.
Athletic were struggling to contain their opponents and it was no surprise when they conceded after 28 minutes as in-form Huntelaar notched his 10th goal of the competition, picking up the ball on the edge of the area and drilling a shot into the bottom left corner.
But the Spanish hosts began to find some rhythm as the half wore on and Gomez produced a stunning equaliser four minutes before the break.
The striker, who had come on as a replacement for Andoni Iraola after 30 minutes, raced on to a ball on the left wing, cut across into the centre and smashed an unstoppable shot home from 25 yards out.
Schalke were back in front seven minutes into the second half thanks to Raul, who made the most of a neat lay-off from Obasi to fire home left-footed from the edge of the area.
But Athletic took just three minutes to draw level once more, Muniain supplying the pass for Susaeta to finish into the bottom right corner from 15 yards.
It was an absorbing contest for the San Mames crowd, and Holtby tried to get Schalke back in front with a drive which went narrowly wide of the left post, while Iraizoz needed two attempts to keep hold of a shot from Jefferson Farfan.
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Substitution | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gorka Iraizoz | ||||
| 15 | Andoni Iraola(sub 29) |
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| 23 | Borja Ekiza | ||||
| 5 | Fernando Amorebieta | ||||
| 3 | Jon Aurtenetxe | ||||
| 21 | Aguera Ander Herrera | ||||
| 24 | Aguinaga Javi Martinez |
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| 10 | Oscar De Marcos |
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| 14 | Markel Susaeta |
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| 9 | Fernando Llorente(sub 57) |
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| 19 | Iker Muniain | ||||
| Substitutes | |||||
| 28 | Gomez Ibai(sub 29)(sub 73) |
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| 13 | Fernandez-Cavada Raul | ||||
| 2 | Gaizka Toquero(sub 57) |
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| 6 | Mikel San Jose(sub 73) |
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| 11 | Igor Gabilondo | ||||
| 17 | Soto Inigo Perez | ||||
| 32 | Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta | ||||
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Substitution | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Lars Unnerstall | ||||
| 6 | Tim Hoogland | ||||
| 14 | Kyriakos Papadopoulos |
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| 32 | Joel Matip |
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| 3 | Sergio Escudero | ||||
| 10 | Lewis Holtby(sub 71) |
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| 13 | Jermaine Jones | ||||
| 19 | Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke(sub 61) |
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| 7 | Gonzalez Raul |
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| 18 | Jose Manuel Jurado(sub 60) |
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| 25 | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar |
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| Substitutes | |||||
| 33 | Mathias Schober | ||||
| 8 | Ciprian Marica(sub 61) |
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| 12 | Marco Hoger(sub 71) |
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| 17 | Jefferson Farfan(sub 60) |
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| 21 | Christoph Metzelder | ||||
| 22 | Atsuto Uchida | ||||
| 28 | Christoph Moritz | ||||
| Team | Athletic Bilbao | Schalke 04 |
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