Group L Europa League Round-Up Matchday 4: Werder And Athletic Made To Sweat

Both big teams in Group L were obliged to leave it late to get anything from their respective ties, but both Werder Bremen and Athletic Bilbao consolidated their positions at the head of the section.

Nov 5, 2009 6:10:18 PM

More On : 
Europa League: Werder Bremen - Austria Vienna, Hugo Almeida - Florian Klein (Bongarts/Getty Images)

http://www.goal.com/en/scores/group-results/73/europa-league

http://www.goal.com/en/match/40543/cd-nacional-vs-athletic-bilbao/lineup-stats

http://www.goal.com/en/match/40542/werder-bremen-vs-austria-wien/lineup-stats

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German side Werder Bremen missed out on the chance to confirm their place in the round of 32 a fortnight ago after they let a lead slip late to Austria Vienna, but have now booked their ticket with a 2-0 win against the same side.  However, it took until the final ten minutes for Werder to assure the victory and in the early going it was the Austrians who created the better chances but were denied by Tim Wiese in between the Werder sticks.

Ultimately late strikes from former Bayern Munich midfielder Tim Borowski on 81 minutes and another three minutes later from Hugo Almeida settled the match Werder’s way and advanced them to ten points.

Athletic Bilbao missed the chance to be certain of their place in the knock-out stages to be played in the New Year when they could only force a draw in Portugal against CD Nacional, as both sides converted from penalty kicks.

Indeed the Portuguese side even took the lead at the half-way point of the second half as both sides struggled to make much of an impact before the break.  A penalty from Edgar on 64 minutes looked like it might be enough for Nacional to take their first win of the group stages, but once again they failed to hang on after opening the score.

After being reduced to ten men, Nacional were forced to weather something of a storm and the eventual equalizer came with five minutes left to play when former Spanish international winger Joseba Exteberria struck from 11 metres to level the scores.

The Basques can confirm their place in the round of 32 along with Werder if they can take something from their next match away to Austria Vienna.  Both Austria Vienna and Nacional now have two points and can still qualify if they can win their remaining two matches, although the final match pits the pair together, although by that stage it may all be academic. 

Walter Townsend, Goal.com

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