Athletic Bilbao has sealed their place in the round of 16 of the Europa League after securing group runner-up status during the 2021-22 season. The Basque club, who were eliminated by Ajax in the quarter-finals last year, have now advanced to the next stage of the competition.
The team's impressive form throughout the group stage earned them a comfortable 4-0 win over Krasnodar in their final game, ensuring they finished top of Group C and qualifying for the knockout stages. Athletic's victory was particularly notable given the fact that they had only won three out of their previous eight matches before the final round of fixtures.
With their qualification secured, Athletic now turn their attention to facing Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in the round of 16. The match will be played at the San Mamés Stadium on February 8th and is expected to attract a large crowd of fans eager to see the Basque outfit progress further in Europe's premier club competition.
Athletic Bilbao's success in the Europa League this season is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the squad, as well as the support of the fans back home. With their recent run of form and the addition of new signings like Ruben Zuniga, it looks like Athletic will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming rounds of the competition.