Athletic Bilbao Soccer News

Athletic Bilbao is reportedly set to appoint Jose Manuel (Mane) Esnal as its new coach to replace Felix Sarriugarte. Mane led Alaves to promotion in his first season in 1997-98. He then guided the team to the 2001 UEFA Cup final _ a 5-4 defeat in extra time to Liverpool _ before being fired two years later. In his most recent position, the 56-year-old Mane won promotion for Levante last ...

Athletic Bilbao's Spain midfielder Pablo Orbaiz will be sidelined for four weeks due to a strained left knee ligament. Orbaiz sustained the injury on Sunday during Bilbao's 3-2 victory at Gimnastic Tarragona, the club said Tuesday. Bilbao is 17th in the 20-team first division with five points from six games following its first win of the season.

Eidur Gudjohnsen and Javier Saviola scored to help defending champion FC Barcelona defeat 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-1 and take a three-point lead in the Spanish league on Saturday. Gudjohnsen, replacing injured Samuel Eto'o, struck Barcelona's second goal from Xavi Hernandez's pinpoint pass in the 61st minute, while substitute Saviola added the third 16 minutes later to seal his team's victory on coach Frank Rijkaard's 44th birthday. Saviola hadn't scored a ...