Upcoming Thursday the UEFA Europe League starts to their first season! In 12 groups by each 4 teams the Europe League will be played in 2 group legs. The first two teams relegate with the 8 thirdplaced teams of the UEFA Champions League to the Round of last 32 in spring 2010!

In Group L Athletic Club Bilbao expect the austrian contender FK Austria Vienna. The basque squad won their first 2 games in the spanish Primera Division, both with 1:0. In the first round they won at home against Espanyol Barcelona after a goal of Gaizka Toquero, during the second round the beat Deportivo Xerez by a own goal of Prieto!

The third qualification round for the UEFA Europe League brought the games between Bilbao and Young Boys Bern (SUI). Bilbao lost 0:1 at home whilst winning 2:1 in Bern and relegated due to away goals. In the following round Tromö IL (NOR) was beaten 3:2 at home and a 1:1 draw kicked Bilbao to the groups stage.

FK Austria Vienna faces in the austrian championshipf rank 3 after 7 rounds with 13 points. The last to rounds brought a draw against SK Rapid Wien in the viennes derby followed by a lost last saturday agains SK Austria Kärnten.

The first opponent during the UEFA Europe League qualification for Austria Vienna was the serbian club Vojvodina Novi Sad. After a 1:1 draw in the first leg followed a dramatic 2nd leg in Vienna when Austria came back after second time deficit an won finally with 4:2. The draw for the following 4th qualification round brought the ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk. Away Austria gains a draw by 2:2. The 2nd leg in Vienna brought again a dramatic run. After a 2:2 in the regular time Emin Sulimani saved Austria Vienna in Minute 115 with a sensational freekick.

During the history of Atheltic Bilbao and FK Austria Vienna both teams played 3 direct games. In 1957 Athletic Bilbao beat Austria in a international friedly by 1:0 at home. 2005 the UEFA Cup saw the duel between Bilbao and Austria in the round of the last 32. After a goalless draw in Vienna Bilbao scored early in the 2nd leg with a penalty taken by Yeste. But Libor Sionko (now FK Copenhagen) scored twice and took Austria Vienna to the next round!

Athletic Club Bilbao vs FK Austria Wien
Thursday, 17th september 2009, 9:05 pm
Estadio San Mames, Bilbao

My tipp: After the paper mould and cosidering the differences of the leagues in Austria and Spain Bilbao is a clear favourite. But i think that the young austrian squad could surprise and take away a draw. The best odd for a draw you find at Bet365 with 4,20!