MADRID, Spain -- Athletic Bilbao secured its return to the Champions League next season by winning 3-0 at Rayo Vallecano on Friday to lock up a fourth-place
finish in the Spanish league.
Cheap NFL Jerseys . With Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona destined to take the top three spots, Bilbao fended
off Sevillas late surge to seal its return to Europes top-tier competition for
the first time since the 1998-99 season. The Basque side qualified for the
playoff round to reach the group phase. "When I think back on how difficult this
year has been, on how much we have won and lost, and to see this now, we have to
enjoy it," Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose said while his teammates celebrated
with a large group of their travelling fans. Bilbaos quest of reaching the
Champions League was led by coach Ernesto Valverde, a former player who returned
to coach the club a second time this summer after the exit of Marcelo Bielsa.
Bilbao kept Rayos attack in check while taking advantage of a number of
well-executed set pieces. After Mikel Rico and Aritz Aduriz both went close with
shots resulting from corner kicks, San Jose acrobatically tapped in a ball from
Markel Susaeta in the 20th minute to open the scoring. Forward Oscar de Marcos
added a second goal 10 minutes later when he fired in a loose ball from a fourth
corner kick, and Ander Herrera curled his free kick around the defensive wall
and in off the post in the 74th to cap the win. The match in Madrid was twice
delayed due to incidents involving both groups of supporters. The kickoff was 15
minutes late to let the Vallecas Stadium grounds crew clean up a large amount of
paper bits Rayos home fans threw onto the pitch while festively celebrating
before the game. The game was briefly stopped a second time after a barrier
collapse in front of a section of Bilbao supporters following their teams second
goal. TV images showed one man with what appeared to be a cut on his head.
Another man needed to be carried off the pitch while he held his foot.
Cheap Jerseys . Riethers apparent stamp on Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj during Saturdays Premier League match
at Craven Cottage was missed by the match officials. A three-man panel of former
referees reviewed the incident and all agreed that it was a sending-off offence.
Wholesale Jerseys .Fucale will not only be one of the local boys, he is also a Montreal Canadiens draft pick and will have
a huge cheering section when Canada opens the tournament Dec. RENTON, Wash. --
Earl Thomas was late to the announcement for his own contract extension, proving
the Seattle Seahawks All-Pro free safety isnt just fast on the field. Driving a
little too speedy to the Seahawks facility on Tuesday morning made Thomas late
after getting pulled over. "I didnt try and bulldog him and say, My name is
Earl Thomas. Because then he would be like, This dude is cocky, and give me a
ticket," Thomas joked. "He let me off. Thats the moral of the story." Thomas was
locked up through the 2018 season when the Seahawks announced a four-year
contract extension making him the highest-paid safety in the NFL. The deal is
worth $40 million over four years and includes $27.7 million in guaranteed
money. Thomas wanted the title of highest-paid safety. He also wanted the
responsibility that comes with that. Thomas was hoping to get a long-term deal
in place before the Seahawks start organized team activities later this month so
there were no distractions heading into the 2014 season. "I compete in
everything that I do and I want to set the bar. That was my goal," Thomas said.
Thomas was Seattles second first-round pick in the 2010 draft, the first with
coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider leading the franchise. Its
turned out to be one of the most important selections the team has made since
starting a makeover with the duo in charge of moulding the Seahawks into a
championship club. Thomas is a two-time first-team All-Pro selection and
regarded as the top safety in the NFL. The Seahawks would be a different
defensive team if they didnt have Thomas skills at their disposal. His speed
allows Thomas uncommon range in coverage. Hes become more disciplined staying
within Seattles defensive framework, and Thomas has remained reliable at
cleaning up any problems in the back. "II think the thing that comes to the
front for me is this program has always been based on competition.
Cheap NFL Jerseys China. When we look for players and coaches to add to our club were always looking for great
competitors," Carroll said. "When we had the chance to take Earl, I dont know
that I appreciated it as much as I do now the great competitor that he is. He
has throughout the time hes been with us as a very young man, has played at the
highest level he can generate every single day that hes played for us in this
organization." Thomas gets the second major extension Seattle has announced this
off-season after locking up Carroll through 2016. Now the question is if the
Seahawks can get an extension done with All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman.
Staying in-house has been the Seahawks priority this off-season; they also took
care of bringing back defensive end Michael Bennett. "Sherm has everything under
control. Hell take care of it," Thomas said. Schneider said the commitment to
Thomas is another signal that Seattle doesnt intend on being a contender or a
champion just once. "I think youre seeing an evolution of our development in
terms of acquisition and how were building this team to be a consistent
championship-calibre team," Schneider said. "We talk about it all the time we
dont want to be a team that cruises in and cruises out." Thomas wanted to share
the day with those close to him. He made sure one of the photo ops before the
formal announcement included most of the defensive coaching staff, along with
teammate Kam Chancellor, who signed an extension through 2017 last off-season.
"Thats my family. Thats the people that have helped me," Thomas said. "... You
learn from everybody, every opportunity you get. I dont waste my time. I invest
everything."
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