# 2012–13 Athletic Bilbao season

The 2012–13 Athletic Bilbao season was the 82nd consecutive season in the top flight and 112th season overall. Athletic were looking to continue their ascendency from last season where they made the final in two different competitions.
Athletic Bilbao competed for their ninth La Liga title and also participated in the UEFA Europa League, entering in the third qualifying round due to their defeat to Barcelona in the 2012 Copa del Rey Final, who had already qualified for European competition. They also entered the Copa del Rey in the Round of 32.

## Squad

The numbers and stats are established according to the official website: www.athletic-club.net
    As of 1 June 2013
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | | |
| 1 | GK | | Gorka Iraizoz | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 4 | | |
| 2 | FW | | Gaizka Toquero | 1 (15) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 (15) | 2 | 1 | | |
| 3 | DF | | Jon Aurtenetxe | 24 (3) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 (3) | 1 | 3 | | |
| 4 | DF | | Aymeric Laporte | 14 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 (1) | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | | Fernando Amorebieta | 10 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 16 (1) | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| 6 | DF | | Mikel San José | 23 (11) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 29 (11) | 6 | 9 | | |
| 8 | MF | | Ander Iturraspe | 27 (3) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 9 | 0 | 37 (4) | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| 9 | FW | | Fernando Llorente | 4 (22) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 (6) | 1 | 8 (28) | 5 | 2 | | |
| 10 | MF | | Óscar de Marcos | 36 | 6 | 1 (1) | 0 | 8 | 1 | 45 (1) | 7 | 15 | | |
| 11 | FW | | Ibai Gómez | 17 (18) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 (5) | 1 | 23 (23) | 5 | 2 | | |
| 13 | GK | | Raúl Fernández | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | | | |
| 14 | MF | | Markel Susaeta | 36 | 7 | 1 (1) | 0 | 8 | 4 | 44 (1) | 12 | 10 | 1 | |
| 15 | DF | | Andoni Iraola | 34 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 42 (1) | 1 | 5 | | |
| 16 | FW | | Isma López | 6 (2) | 0 | — | — | 6 (2) | 2 | 12 (4) | 2 | | | |
| 17 | MF | | Iñigo Pérez | 5 | 0 | — | — | 3 (1) | 1 | 8 (1) | 1 | 3 | | |
| 18 | MF | | Carlos Gurpegi (c) | 24 (3) | 1 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 31 (3) | 1 | 14 | | |
| 19 | FW | | Iker Muniain | 27 (6) | 1 | 1 (1) | 0 | 6 (2) | 1 | 34 (9) | 2 | 11 | | 1 |
| 20 | FW | | Aritz Aduriz | 33 (3) | 14 | 0 (2) | 1 | 5 (1) | 3 | 38 (6) | 18 | 12 | 1 | |
| 21 | MF | | Ander Herrera | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 (1) | 1 | 34 (1) | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 22 | DF | | Xabi Castillo | 3 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 (4) | 0 | 1 | | |
| 23 | DF | | Borja Ekiza | 23 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 26 (2) | 0 | 3 | | |
| 26 | MF | | Igor Martínez | 0 (3) | 0 | — | — | 2 (1) | 1 | 2 (4) | 1 | 1 | | |
| 27 | MF | | Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta | 0 (3) | 0 | — | — | 1 (4) | 0 | 1 (7) | 0 | | | |
| 28 | DF | | Jonás Ramalho | 4 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 8 (3) | 0 | | | |
| 33 | MF | | Iker Undabarrena | — | — | — | — | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | | | |
| 39 | MF | | Erik Morán | 0 (1) | 0 | — | — | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | | | |
| 40 | MF | | Álvaro Peña | — | — | — | — | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 | | |
| 41 | MF | | Jonxa Vidal | — | — | — | — | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | | | |

## Competitions
### Friendlies

Kickoff times are in CET.
Win  Draw  Loss
| Round | Date/Time | Opponents | Location | Score | Scorers | Referee |
| Friendly | 13 July 2012 - 20:00 | Lyon | Stade des Alpes, Grenoble | 2–1 | Aduriz 78' (pen.), 88' | Wilfried Bien (France) |
| Friendly | 17 July 2012 – 21:45 | Raja Casablanca | Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca | 1–3 | Toquero 47' | Hicham Tiazi (Morocco) |
| Friendly | 21 July 2012 – 14:00 | PSV Eindhoven | Stadion Miejski, Wrocław | 0–1 | | Sebastian Tarnowski (Poland) |
| Friendly | 22 July 2012 – 14:00 | Śląsk Wrocław | Stadion Miejski, Wrocław | 1–0 | Susaeta 43' | Marek Opalinski (Poland) |
| Friendly | 27 July 2012 – 19:00 | Lille | Stade André Darrigade, Dax | 1–3 | Ibai 67' | Romain Delpech (France) |
| Friendly | 11 August 2012 – 19:00 | Sestao River | Las Llanas, Sestao | 1–2 | Ibai 20' | Bikandi Garrido (Basque Country) |
| Friendly | 15 August 2012 - 19:00 | Barakaldo | Nuevo Lasesarre, Barakaldo | 2–1 | Ibai 22', Aduriz 82' | González Esteban (Basque Country) |
| Friendly | 21 August 2012 – 19:00 | Amorebieta | Urritxe, Amorebieta | 1–3 | Sabin 76' | Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (Basque Country) |
| Friendly | 7 September 2012 - 20:00 | Real Valladolid | Nuevo José Zorrilla, Valladolid | 2–2 (3–1 pen.) | Ibai 35', Toquero 88' | González González (Castile and León) |
| Friendly | 7 May 2013 – 19:00 | Portugalete | La Florida, Portugalete | 3–1 | Llorente 3', 76', Ibai 23' | González Esteban (Basque Country) |
| Friendly | 22 May 2013 – 19:00 | Somorrostro | El Malecon, Muskiz | 5–1 | Ibai 11', 17', Sabin 15', Aurtenetxe 84', Unai López 87' | Delgado Ferreiro (Basque Country) |
| Friendly | 5 June 2013 – 20:45 | Biscay XI | San Mamés, Bilbao | 0–1 | Arroyo 66' | Delgado Ferreiro (Basque Country) |
* ↑ Centenary of Biscay Football Federation / Farewell to San Mamés

### La Liga
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 10 | Getafe | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 43 | 57 | −14 | 47 |
| 11 | Levante | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 46 |
| 12 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 44 | 65 | −21 | 45 |
| 13 | Espanyol | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 44 |
| 14 | Valladolid | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 49 | 58 | −9 | 43 |

#### Matches

Kickoff times are in CET.
| Round | Date/Time | Opponents | Location | Score | Scorers | Referee |
| 1 | 19 August 2012 – 19:00 | Real Betis | San Mamés, Bilbao | 3–5 | De Marcos 47', San José 67', 76' | J. A. Teixeira Vitienes (Cantabria) |
| 2 | 27 August 2012 – 22:00 | Atlético Madrid | Vicente Calderón, Madrid | 0–4 | | F. Teixeira Vitienes (Cantabria) |
| 3 | 2 September 2012 – 16:00 | Real Valladolid | San Mamés, Bilbao | 2–0 | Aduriz 69', Susaeta 75' | Del Cerro Grande (Community of Madrid) |
| 4 | 16 September 2012 – 12:00 | Espanyol | Cornellà-El Prat, Cornellà de Llobregat | 3–3 | Aduriz 56', 83', Llorente 71' | Pérez Montero (Andalusia) |
| 5 | 23 September 2012 – 19:50 | Málaga | San Mamés, Bilbao | 0–0 | | Mateu Lahoz (Valencian Community) |
| 6 | 29 September 2012 – 20:00 | Real Sociedad | Anoeta, San Sebastián | 0–2 | | Clos Gómez (Aragon) |
| 7 | 7 October 2012 – 18:00 | Osasuna | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–0 | Aduriz 12' | González González (Castile and León) |
| 8 | 21 October 2012 – 20:00 | Valencia | Mestalla, Valencia | 2–3 | Aduriz 19', 30' | Undiano Mallenco (Navarre) |
| 9 | 28 October 2012 – 17:50 | Getafe | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–2 | San José 90+3' | Gil Manzano (Canary Islands) |
| 10 | 4 November 2012 – 19:45 | Granada | Los Cármenes, Granada | 2–1 | Aduriz 13' (pen.), 27' | Muñiz Fernández (Asturias) |
| 11 | 11 November 2012 – 16:00 | Sevilla | San Mamés, Bilbao | 2–1 | De Marcos 26', Susaeta 45' | Hernández Hernández (Canary Islands) |
| 12 | 17 November 2012 – 22:00 | Real Madrid | Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid | 1–5 | Ibai 42' | J. A. Teixeira Vitienes (Cantabria) |
| 13 | 25 November 2012 – 17:00 | Deportivo La Coruña | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–1 | De Marcos 24' | Álvarez Izquierdo (Catalonia) |
| 14 | 2 December 2012 – 20:00 | Barcelona | Camp Nou, Barcelona | 1–5 | Ibai 65' | Mateu Lahoz (Valencian Community) |
| 15 | 9 December 2012 – 17:00 | Celta Vigo | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–0 | Aduriz 33' | F. Teixeira Vitienes (Cantabria) |
| 16 | 16 December 2012 – 18:00 | Mallorca | Iberostar, Palma | 1–0 | Aduriz 11' | Del Cerro Grande (Community of Madrid) |
| 17 | 22 December 2012 – 22:00 | Zaragoza | San Mamés, Bilbao | 0–2 | | Mateu Lahoz (Valencian Community) |
| 18 | 5 January 2013 – 16:00 | Levante | Ciutat de València, Valencia | 1–3 | Aduriz 6' | Paradas Romero (Andalusia) |
| 19 | 11 January 2013 – 21:30 | Rayo Vallecano | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–2 | San José 76' | Pérez Montero (Andalusia) |
| 20 | 21 January 2013 – 21:30 | Real Betis | Benito Villamarín, Sevilla | 1–1 | Aduriz 41' | Ayza Gámez (Valencian Community) |
| 21 | 27 January 2013 – 21:00 | Atlético Madrid | San Mamés, Bilbao | 3–0 | San José 50', Susaeta 77', De Marcos 84' | Muñiz Fernández (Asturias) |
| 22 | 1 February 2013 – 21:30 | Real Valladolid | Nuevo José Zorrilla, Valladolid | 2–2 | De Marcos 22', Susaeta 50' | Estrada Fernández (Catalonia) |
| 23 | 10 February 2013 – 19:00 | Espanyol | San Mamés, Bilbao | 0–4 | | Velasco Carballo (Community of Madrid) |
| 24 | 16 February 2013 – 18:00 | Málaga | La Rosaleda, Málaga | 0–1 | | González González (Castile and León) |
| 25 | 22 February 2013 – 21:30 | Real Sociedad | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–3 | Ibai 30' | Undiano Mallenco (Navarre) |
| 26 | 2 March 2013 – 20:00 | Osasuna | El Sadar, Pamplona | 1–0 | Susaeta 63' | F. Teixeira Vitienes (Cantabria) |
| 27 | 10 March 2013 – 12:00 | Valencia | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–0 | Muniain 79' | J. A. Teixeira Vitienes (Cantabria) |
| 28 | 16 March 2013 – 18:00 | Getafe | Alfonso Pérez, Getafe | 0–1 | | Iglesias Villanueva (Galicia) |
| 29 | 1 April 2013 – 20:00 | Granada | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–0 | Aduriz 66' | Del Cerro Grande (Community of Madrid) |
| 30 | 8 April 2013 – 22:00 | Sevilla | Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Sevilla | 1–2 | Gurpegi 55' | Mateu Lahoz (Valencian Community) |
| 31 | 14 April 2013 – 21:00 | Real Madrid | San Mamés, Bilbao | 0–3 | | F. Teixeira Vitienes (Cantabria) |
| 32 | 21 April 2013 – 17:00 | Deportivo La Coruña | Riazor, A Coruña | 1–1 | Llorente 44' | Pérez Montero (Andalusia) |
| 33 | 27 April 2013 – 18:00 | Barcelona | San Mamés, Bilbao | 2–2 | Susaeta 26', Ander Herrera 90' | Iglesias Villanueva (Galicia) |
| 34 | 3 May 2013 – 21:00 | Celta Vigo | Balaídos, Vigo | 1–1 | De Marcos 43' | Velasco Carballo (Community of Madrid) |
| 35 | 11 May 2013 – 16:00 | Mallorca | San Mamés, Bilbao | 2–1 | Aduriz 7', Llorente 78' | Hernández Hernández (Canary Islands) |
| 36 | 19 May 2013 – 19:00 | Zaragoza | La Romareda, Zaragoza | 2–1 | Llorente 80', Ibai 92' | Del Cerro Grande (Community of Madrid) |
| 37 | 26 May 2013 – 20:00 | Levante | San Mamés, Bilbao | 0–1 | | J. A. Teixeira Vitienes (Cantabria) |
| 38 | 1 June 2013 – 21:00 | Rayo Vallecano | Campo de Vallecas, Vallecas | 2–2 | Susaeta 30', Aurtenetxe 48' | Muñiz Fernández (Asturias) |

### Copa del Rey

Kickoff times are in CET.
| Round | Date/Time | Opponents | Location | Score | Scorers | Referee |
| Round of 32 (1st leg) | 1 November 2012 – 12:00 | Eibar | Ipurua, Eibar | 0–0 | | Paradas Romero (Andalusia) |
| Round of 32 (2nd leg) | 12 December 2012 – 20:00 | Eibar | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–1 (1–1a agg.) | Aduriz 88' | Velasco Carballo (Community of Madrid) |

### UEFA Europa League

Kickoff times are in CET.

#### Qualifying round

| Round | Date/Time | Opponents | Location | Score | Scorers | Referee |
| Third qualifying round (1st leg) | 2 August 2012 – 21:00 | Slaven Belupo | San Mamés, Bilbao | 3–1 | Isma López 16', 68', Susaeta 20' | Serhiy Boiko (Ukraine) |
| Third qualifying round (2nd leg) | 9 August 2012 – 18:45 | Slaven Belupo | Gradski stadion, Koprivnica | 1–2 (4–3 agg.) | Muniain 47' | Danny Makkelie (Netherlands) |
| Play-off round (1st Leg) | 23 August 2012 – 21:00 | HJK Helsinki | San Mamés, Bilbao | 6–0 | Aduriz 25', 51', Susaeta 31', 57', Iñigo Pérez 42', Iraola 85' | Bülent Yıldırım (Turkey) |
| Play-off round (2nd Leg) | 30 August 2012 – 19:00 | HJK Helsinki | Sonera Stadium, Helsinki | 3–3 (9–3 agg.) | San José 67', Toquero 77', Igor Martínez 88' | Alan Kelly (Republic of Ireland) |

#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Lyon | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 16 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 2 | Sparta Prague | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 9 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 3 | Athletic Bilbao | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 5 | |
| 4 | Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | −7 | 2 | |
Kickoff times are in CET.
| Round | Date/Time | Opponents | Location | Score | Scorers | Referee |
| Matchday 1 | 20 September 2012 – 21:05 | Ironi Kiryat Shmona | San Mamés, Bilbao | 1–1 | Susaeta 40' | Simon Lee Evans (Wales) |
| Matchday 2 | 4 October 2012 – 19:00 | Sparta Prague | Generali Arena, Prague | 1–3 | De Marcos 73' | Manuel De Sousa (Portugal) |
| Matchday 3 | 25 October 2012 – 19:00 | Lyon | Stade de Gerland, Lyon | 1–2 | Ibai 79' | Andre Marriner (England) |
| Matchday 4 | 8 November 2012 – 21:05 | Lyon | San Mamés, Bilbao | 2–3 | Ander Herrera 48', Aduriz 55' (pen.) | Pol van Boekel (Netherlands) |
| Matchday 5 | 29 November 2012 – 19:00 | Ironi Kiryat Shmona | Kiryat Eliezer Stadium, Haifa | 2–0 | Llorente 34', Toquero 76' | Rene Eisner (Austria) |
| Matchday 6 | 6 December 2012 – 21:05 | Sparta Prague | San Mamés, Bilbao | 0–0 | | Sébastien Delferiere (Belgium) |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Transfer Fee |
| 1 July 2012 | FW | Aritz Aduriz | Valencia CF | €2.5M |
| 1 July 2012 | MF | Ismael López | CD Lugo | Free |
| 1 July 2012 | GK | Iago Herrerín | Atlético Madrid B | Free |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Transfer Fee |
| 2 July 2012 | FW | Iñigo Díaz de Cerio | CD Mirandés | Free |
| 6 July 2012 | DF | Koikili | CD Mirandés | Free |
| 10 July 2012 | MF | Igor Gabilondo | AEK Larnaca | Free |
| 25 July 2012 | MF | Pablo Orbaiz | Rubin Kazan | Free |
| 29 August 2012 | MF | Javi Martínez | Bayern Munich | €40M |
| 31 August 2012 | MF | Galder Cerrajería | Real Oviedo | Free |
| 31 August 2012 | MF | David López | Brighton & Hove Albion | Free |
| 31 August 2012 | DF | Ustaritz | | Released |
| 29 January 2013 | GK | Aitor Fernández | Villarreal B | Free |

### Loan out

| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | To |
| 1 July 2012 | 30 June 2013 | GK | Iago Herrerín | CD Numancia |
| 17 July 2012 | 30 June 2013 | DF | Iban Zubiaurre | UD Salamanca |
| 28 August 2012 | 30 June 2013 | FW | Mikel Orbegozo | Sestao River |