Bilbao's Europa League journey nearly over after home defeat

 MADRID, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Athletic¹ Club Bilbao need a miracle if they are to qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League after suffering a 3-2 home defeat against Olympique Lyon Thursday.

The French side took a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Bafetimi Gomis and Yohann Gourcuff, although the lead was due partly to Lyon keeper Remi Yercoutre, who made a pair of fine saves to deny Ander Herrera and Oscar de Marcos.

Athletic came out for the second half looking to get back on level terms and pulled a goal back quickly through Ander Herrera, who fired home from close range.

Aritz Aduriz continued his run of scoring from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half and the home side looked capable of turning the result around.

However, an error from Iker Muniain eight minutes later allowed Alexandre Lacazette to score Lyon's third and that was a moral blow for Bilbao who were unable to recover from the goal and looked tired in the finishing minutes.

They need to win their next two games, while hoping Sparta Prague lose both of theirs to have any chance of progressing.

Elsewhere Wilson Eduardo scored for Academica Coimbra after 28 minutes and doubled his side's lead after 69 minutes to assure the points against an Atletico Madrid filled with substitutes and without the presence of star striker Radamel Falcao who has habitually² been rested in Europa League matches.

It was Atletico Madrid's first defeat in 16 European games -- a run which has seen them win both the Europa League and the European Supercup in recent months.

Meanwhile Levante drew 0-0 away to FC Twente, a result which edges the side closer to the knockout stage of the competition.

1 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

2 habitually   

ad.习惯地，通常地

参考例句：

• The pain of the disease caused him habitually to furrow his brow. 病痛使他习惯性地紧皱眉头。
• Habitually obedient to John, I came up to his chair. 我已经习惯于服从约翰，我来到他的椅子跟前。