News Archive

Europa League, day 3

The two Spanish sides finally showed their muscle on Thursday evening, both easily winning their ties to improve their positions in their respective groups. Athletic Bilbao were first up, and a full strength line-up beat Partizan Belgrade 0-2 to displace their hosts at the top of the table. Raúl García headed the opener from a De Marcos cross with half an hour gone, and Beñat wrapped things up with a well struck free kick near the end. Later in the evening Villarreal had no problems seeing off Dinamo Minsk, Bakambu scoring twice in the first half, and Soldado and Eric Bailly adding two more after the interval for a comfortable 4-0 victory. Marcelino’s side are now second behind group leaders Rapid Vienna. (22.10.15)

Partizan Belgrade 0 - Athletic Bilbao 2

A good win for Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, the Basque side beating Partizan Belgrade 0-2 to displace the Serbians at the top of the table. After losing in Alkmaar, Valverde decided to put out a full strength line-up, and Susaeta and Etxeita both brought good saves out of Zivko Zivkovic before Raúl García headed a De Marcos cross down past the keeper and in off the far post. The local keeper had to be at his best to turn a shot from Aduríz around the post a few minutes later, and Williams just failed to find the target a couple of times either side of half time. Andrija Zivkovic and Fabricio did go close for the locals at the other end, but Zivko had to keep out a couple of long range efforts from Beñat, and with five minutes to go the Spanish international midfielder wrapped things up with a well struck free kick. (22.10.15)

Villarreal 4 – Dinamo Minsk 0

Later in the evening Villarreal had no problems seeing off Dinamo Minsk, a 4-0 victory taking them to up to second in their group, still three points behind leaders Rapid Vienna, who also won on Thursday. Bakambu was back in the side after an injury lay-off, and he tested Gutor early on before opening the scoring from Samuel’s cross with just over a quarter of an hour gone. Rassadkin headed wide for the visitors, but that was about the last time they had sight of Barbosa’s goal, and on the half hour mark Bakambu got his second of the evening after Jonathan Dos Santos and Rukavina combined to set him up. Soldado made it three after latching on to a Denis Suárez through ball to round the keeper and steer an angled shot into the net, and Eric Bailly also got in on the action some ten minutes later, turning the ball in from close up after Nahuel crossed in from right of the area. (22.10.15)