Athletic Bilbao and Spartak Moscow face off tonight in the Europa League but there have been some scarcely believable scenes as both sets of fans clashed in the run up to the tie.
In this clip below we can see what looks like fireworks being used as a weapon, with scuffles breaking out amid the crossfire:
Scenes in Bilbao tonight before the match between Athletic Bilbao and Spartak Moscowpic.twitter.com/MPxdKO8EHG
— When Sunday Comes (@WSCsupporters) February 22, 2018
HOY EN BILBAO pic.twitter.com/93rykIlT3C
— Igor Olave (@IgorOlave) February 22, 2018
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Crazy. It's like a scene from Star Wars.
There had been anxiousness in the days leading up to the second leg with reports that as many as 2,100 Spartak Moscow fans were due to travel to Bilbao to support their team.
The local authorities in Bilbao had advised that bars and restaurants bring in outside tables and chairs to prevent them potentially being used as weapons while schools have cancelled all off-premises activities. When you witness scenes like the ones in the clip above you understand why authorities were so wary.
There are reports also from Marca that a policeman went into cardiac arrest at the scene of the fight and later died in hospital:
The police officer, who was one of five people taken to the Basurto University hospital in Bilbao before the game kicked off, was confirmed dead shortly after 22:00 hours.
