Athletico Bilbao win the Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup

Lee Holmes in action against Athletico Bilbao
Lee Holmes in action against Athletico Bilbao
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Athletic Bilbao have won the inaugural Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup at St Mary’s.

The Spanish side defeated both Werder Bremen and then Saints in front of a relatively sparse crowd.

Saints started the day in perfect fashion, beating Bundesliga side Bremen 3-0 in an impressive display thanks to goals from David Connolly, Guly do Prado and Adam Lallana in a 45 minute match that also featured Alex Chamberlain.

Bilbao then went on to beat Bremen 2-1 before a totally changed Saints XI faced the La Liga team knowing the winner would lift the trophy.

As it transpired Bilbao ran out 2-0 victors and were presented the trophy by club legend Terry Paine and executive chairman Nicola Cortese.

Saints team v Werder Bremen: Bialkowski, Butterfield, Fonte, Seaborne, Harding, Chamberlain, Hammond, Cork, Lallana, Guly, Connolly.

Saints team v Athletic Bilbao: Davis, Richardson, Martin, Jaidi, Dickson, Holmes, Schneiderlin, Chaplow, Forte, Doble, Barnard.

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