Manchester United tossed out of the Europa League in devastating fashion after two lacklustre performances as they were outclassed by Athletic Bilbao in their last-16 tie in Bilbao. Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United Video

London / NationalTurk – Sir Alex Ferguson’s men again outplayed by the Basque side Athletic Bilbao and were never close to qualifying for the next round at Europa League as they are thoroughly beaten by Marco Bielsa’s superior side.

A lacklustre Manchester United were dumped out of the Europa League after being beaten 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao. Manchester United will now return home to maintain their Premier League challenge, battling with Manchester City, who also have been eliminated in the same competition, but there is no doubt they received a footballing lesson that will be hard to forget.

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United : Sir Alex Ferguson shoved class and praised the victor

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised and tipped Athletic Bilbao for Europa League title after Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United game.

Athletic Bilbao took a commanding lead through a wonderful goal by a first touch shot from Fernando Llorente and Oscar de Marcos put the final nail into Manchester United’s coffin, while Manchester United hit back with another wonder goal late on from Wayne Rooney as a consolation prize

Athletic Bilbao were on the front foot for almost the entire Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United match, as Manchester United were put to the sword by some high intensity play with plenty of technique on display.

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United : As it happened

Sir Alex Ferguson opted to go for Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United secon leg with Wayne Rooney as a lone striker, backed up by Ryan Giggs in an attacking role, Ashley Young was started on the left wing with Park Ji-Sung on the right and a central midfield pairing of Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick, whereas Athletic Bilbao lined up with a similar team to that which impressed Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Iker Muniain and Fernado Llorente the main attacking threat for the hosts.

Manchester United attacked straight from the off, as Park found Rooney down the left, but the striker got his chip wrong as it sailed across the face of goal.

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United Highlights : Watch how Bilbao outclassed Manchester United

[media id=498 width=610 height=340]

It looked certain to be an end-to-end game, with Bilbao swarming around the ball when Manchester United were in possession, and attacking with vigour when on the ball.

Ashley Young was the next player to go close, put through by Cleverley but seeing his shot blocked before Marcelo Bielsa’s men almost put the tie beyond the Red Devils.

Fernando Llorente played a neat reverse pass through to Muniain, on the edge of the area, whose low drive cannoned back off the and back to De Marcos, but the 22-year-old attacker conspired to heave an effort over the bar with David de Gea out of position.

But it wasn’t long before the visiting Manchester United fell behind, to a fantastic first touch finish by Spain international Fernando Llorente. A simple long ball over the top from Fernando Amorebieta exposed Rio Ferdinand, and the Spanish striker volleyed across the face of goal and into the far corner, giving De Gea no chance.

It meant that Manchester United went 4-2 down on aggregate and would need at least three goals against Athletic Bilbao to advance to the round of 16 in Europa League

A fabulous cross from Ashley Young to the back post five minutes later found an un-marked Ryan Giggs, but his header was brilliantly deflected over the bar.

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United : Proving Spanish league is the best in the world ?

Manchester United continued to press, Cleverley controlled a ball on the edge of the box and took a knock on the leg from a Athletic Bilbao defender, but nothing was given as the midfielder went down fairly easily.

The half ended with both sides already nursing injuries, as goal scorer Fernando Llorente was substituted five minutes before the end, and rightback Rafael fell awkwardly on a soft patch of grass, but seemed to recover before the break.

Going into the second half Alex Ferguson’s Man. United still needed three goals, and didn’t look like getting even close as Athletic Bilbao bombarded and tortured them relentlessly.

Bilbao were inches away from an astounding goal as Andoni Iraola tricked his way into the area, rolling the ball past Carrick then Ferdinand, but placing his shot just wide of the post, with the home crowd about to take the roof off the stadium.

Time and again United were forced to kick the ball long under immense pressure from the hosts, and they could not get their own game going with Rooney looking out of sorts after little time on the ball.

Ferguson perhaps gave a telling sign of how he thought the game was progressing just after the hour mark when he withdrew Ferdinand and Carrick for Chris Smalling and the promising but inexperienced midfielder Paul Pogba.

And two minutes later United’s European misery was all but sealed. A cross in towards Gaizka Toquero was well blocked by Smalling, but the rebound fell to De Marcos 10 yards out, and his shot was deflected past De Gea by the outstretched foot of Jonny Evans.

Even as the match progressed and Danny Welbeck was introduced, Manchester United continued to struggle and failed to create any chances.

It was, in fact, Athletic Bilbao who were coming closer and closer to adding a goal, as Iraola’s great cross was inexpleicably headed over from six yards by Toquero.

It was another poor European night for Manchetser United, red devils and the final one of the season for them. Wayne Rooney went down with what looked like a nasty tackle on his ankle, but recovered to carry on.

Wayne Rooney recovered so well, in fact, that he was able to curl a beautfiul effort into the top corner to bring a goal back for the Unitede that was even applauded by the Bilbao fans.

Manchetser United were starting to look like they had a way back into the game, with Wayne Rooney creator-in-chief but De Marcos almost snatched another goal with a little under five minutes remaining in the Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United game.

Dany Welbeck came close from long range, forcing the first save of the night from Iraizoz, but the Bilbao keeper did well to push it around the post.

Ultimately though, Manchester United were nowhere near their peak, and suffered as they were outplayed by Athletic Bilbao in every department, and deservedly knocked out of European competition for a second time this season. (first Champions League and now Europa League) Manchester United can claim they did not bother..After all Premier League is far more important than Europa League.

[adrotate group=”8″]