Dream final for Susaeta and Athletic Bilbao Updated for January 2026

Updated: 18th January 2026

Athletic Bilbao continued their fine European form, this season, by booking their place in the Europa League final, where they will face Atletico Madrid, in the competition's first all-Spanish final since 2007. 

The last time that two Spanish sides battled it out in a European final, Sevilla edged out Espanyol to win the tournament, much to the delight of fans who had backed the former side with Betfair Europa League betting.

Bilbao midfielder, Markel Susaeta, has admitted that facing Atletico in the final of the competition is a dream final for both clubs. There is sure to be a sensational atmosphere inside the Stadionul National, when the two La Liga clubs meet on May 9.

Susaeta remarked that the atmosphere inside San Mames, Bilbao's home ground, had inspired the side to overturn their 2-1 first-leg defeat against the Portuguese giants. “It's the dream final,” said Susaeta.

Susaeta grabbed the opening goal of his side's thrilling 3-1 victory, against Sporting, to book the club's place in the final. The midfielder's goal was followed up by further strikes from Ibai Gomez and Fernando Llorente, cancelling out Ricky van Wolfswinkel's tie-levelling first-half strike.

It was Susaeta's fifth goal in the tournament, so far, and the midfielder has been one of the major reasons behind the club's impressive European run, this season. Not many expected Bilbao to be in the final of the competition. However, those that have watched the team in Europe, this year, will not be that surprised by what they have achieved.

Atletico will almost certainly go into the final as favourites, although that will not bother Bilbao manager, Marcelo Bielsa, who will back his team to pull out one more surprise in the tournament.

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