Europa League

Athletic Bilbao 2 - AZ Alkmaar 2

Athletic: Herrerín; Bóveda, Gurpegi, Elustondo, Saborit; San Jose (Iturraspe 70‘), Mikel Rico; Susaeta, Eraso (Aketxe 81‘), Sabin; Kike Sola (Viguera 77‘). 4-2-3-1.
Alkmaar: Coutinho; Johansson, Gouweleeuw, Luckassen, Ouwejan (Hatzidiakos 74’); Rienstra, Celso Ortíz; Hupperts (Tankovic 64‘), van Overeem (Mühren 80’), Haye; Janssen. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 26. Van Overeem. Steered header back past Herrerín from Rienstra cross.
1-1. 43. Kike Sola. Hooked shot past Countinho after Saborit headed back corner.
2-1. 47. San José (penalty). After Luckassen blocked Eraso cross with arm in area.
2-2. 88. Saborit (own goal). Deflected Janssen shot past Herrerín from near post.

Athletic Bilbao were already sure of finishing champions of group L, and Ernesto Valverde put out a much changed line-up against AZ Alkmaar, who were bottom of the group with no chance of carrying on in the competition. The Dutch side had beaten Athletic in the first leg though, and midway through the first half Van Overeem headed them into the lead from Rienstra’s cross. However with the first half coming to a close Kike Sola made it all square after Saborit headed back a corner, and just two minutes after the restart San José made it two from the penalty spot after Eraso’s centre hit Luckassen on the arm. Viguera and Aketxe came close to extending the lead when they both hit the bar in an extended attack near the end, but play went up the other end, and Saborit deflected Janssen’s shot past his own keeper to save a point for the visitors.