First Division - Day 38

Athletic Bilbao 3 - Sevilla 1

Athletic: Iraizoz; Lekue, Bóveda, Gurpegui (Mikel Rico 87’), Balenziaga (Elustondo 49’); San José, Beñat; Williams (Muniain 76’), Raúl García, Susaeta; Aduríz. 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Sergio Rico; David Carmona, Rami (Carriço 46’), Diego González, Kolodziejczak; N’Zonzi (Krychowiak 46’), Cristóforo; Curro Sánchez, Iborra, Konoplyanka (Escudero 60’); Juan Muñoz. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 11. Aduríz. Following up after Rico saved deflected shot from Raúl García.
2-0. 31. Aduríz. Connected with Susaeta centre to fire first time volley past keeper.
2-1. 55. Juan Muñoz. Got on the end of Curro cross to turn ball in on far post.
3-1. 71. Raúl García. Steered angled header wide of keeper from Susaeta cross.

Yellow cards: Raúl García 05’, Iborra 34’, Cristóforo 39’, Curro 60’ / red cards: Coke (on bench) 34’, Kolodziejczak 57’, Mikel Rico 90’.

Athletic Bilbao tied up fifth spot after they beat Sevilla 3-1 on Saturday, the win taking them above Celta in the rankings. The Andalusians were already sure of a Europa League spot for next season, and with two cup finals coming up in the next eight days, Unai Emery put out a line-up packed with reserves and youngsters. Even so Iraoizoz had to be at his best to keep out Iborra early on, but soon afterwards Aduríz put the locals ahead after Sergio Rico could only push out a shot from Raúl García which hit N’Zonzi at first. With half an hour gone Aduríz got on the end of Susaeta’s cross to volley home his second, and although Juan Muñoz got one back from a Curro assist, the visitors were left with ten men when referee Alvarez Izquierdo (who had already shown a red card to Coke on the bench) sent off Kolodziejczak for insulting a linesman. A few minutes later Raúl García wrapped things up with a header from Susaeta’s cross, and there was a standing ovation from the crowd when team captain Gurpegui left the field for the last time before retiring. Numbers were evened up when Mikel Rico was also sent off for a rash tackle on an opponent, but it was too late for Sevilla to prevent another defeat which meant they had not won a single match away from home this season. They won’t be too bothered about that though, and they are now looking forward to those two cup finals, hoping to beat Liverpool next Wednesday to tie up a place in the Champions League.