The 2012-13 campaign was a season of massive transition and underachievement for Athletic Bilbao, with Los Leones slumping to a disappointing 12th-place finish in La Liga under the intense, high-pressing system of manager Marcelo Bielsa. Expectations were sky-high after reaching both the Europa League and Copa del Rey finals the previous year, but the team struggled with the turbulent departure of star striker Fernando Llorente and fell short in both cup competitions, exiting the Copa del Rey in the Round of 32 and the Europa League in the Group Stage. Spearheading the attack in place of Llorente was the returning hero Aritz Aduriz, whose 14 league goals (18 in all competitions) proved vital in a campaign built on grit and an evolving philosophy, ultimately marking the end of Bielsa's fascinating two-year reign at San Mamés.