The Tribune

LONDON (AP) -- The hangover from its surprise elimination of Manchester United is threatening to jeopardize Athletic Bilbao's hopes of winning the Europa League ahead of the Spanish club's visit to Schalke in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Thursday. Athletic attracted comparisons with the mighty Barcelona by producing two legs of mesmerizing football to oust the favourites in the last 16, but hasn't won in four La Liga games since. Schalke, the competition winner in 1996 and in fine form in the Bundesliga, will look to take full advantage in one of two quarterfinals between Spanish and German teams. "They are a very good unit and when their attack starts rolling, it's difficult for any team to stop Bilbao," said Sergio Escudero, one of three Spaniards in Schalke's squad. "But I think we have a good chance of reaching the semifinals." With United and Premier League title rival Manchester City surprisingly knocked out in the last round, Europe's second-tier club competition looks wide open this year. Atletico Madrid, the 2010 winner, hosts Hannover in the first leg of their quarterfinal while Valencia -- the third Spanish team through to the last eight -- travels to AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands. Sporting Lisbon's reward for ousting City is a two-legged match against Metalist Kharkiv, arguably the underdog among the remaining teams.