Defeating Manchester United Makes Athletic Bilbao UEFA Europa League Favourites

After destroying Manchester United for the second time in as many weeks, Athletic Bilbao's talented youngsters have to be considered favourites to lift the UEFA Europa League.

Bilbao's latest batch of young players again passed their way through United with quickness and intelligence. No other side left in the competition can match the speed of thought and technical acumen of Marco Bielsa's youthful team.

Fernando Llorente opened the scoring with an immaculate volley from the edge of the box after escaping the attentions of Rio Ferdinand via some deft movement. After that, Bilbao controlled the flow of the game with a composure that belies their tender years.

Ander Herrerra and Iker Munain once again dictated the possession play in midfield, and the highly-touted Javier Martinez delivered a master class in how to limit Wayne Rooney.

Bilbao have strength, skill and creativity in every key area of the team and will fear no one heading into the quarterfinals. Their biggest danger may come from a fellow La Liga team.

Valencia possess a similar kind of quality and mobility in midfield and boast perhaps the competition's most dangerous striker in the crafty and decisive Roberto Soldado. A Bilbao-Valencia clash could well produce the finest football seen in this season's Europa League.

Another team who could render Bilbao underdogs would be mega-rich Manchester City, assuming they can overcome a one-goal deficit against Sporting Lisbon.

That draw would give fans another chance to see how Bilbao's adherence to youth and technique can overcome the riches and physical power of the English Premier League's finest.

If Athletic Bilbao's latest class of young talent can continue to play with the swagger that has seen them so boldly dismiss United, they have to be favourites for European glory.