Bilbao continue run of form

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Athletic Bilbao continued to keep the pressure on the teams above them with a deserved 2-1 victory over Almeria at San Mames.

Athletic have been the form team in La Liga over the last few weeks and Saturday's win, secured by goals from Xabier Etxeitia and Mikel Rico in the opening half-hour, was their fifth on the trot and saw them move to within five points of Malaga in seventh.

Almeria did manage to reduce the deficit when home defender Mikel Balenziaga put through his own net at the start of the second half, but they never really threatened an equaliser as their winless run stretched to six games.

It took Athletic just nine minutes to take the lead as Etxeitia climbed above a group of players to glance in Benat Etxebarria's corner.

In what was a rampant start by the home side, Ibai Gomez struck the crossbar five minutes later and Almeria survived two more scares before Athletic doubled their lead in the 26th minute.

Almeria goalkeeper Julian Cuesta's punch from a right-wing cross only went as far as Rico on the edge of the box and he chested the ball down before lofting a shot over the stranded Julian and into the net.

At that stage it was looking set to be an Athletic romp, but somehow Almeria managed to get through to half-time only 2-0 down despite Rico, Iker Muniain (twice), Guillermo and Inaki Williams all going close for the hosts.

Athletic really should have been out of sight following a dominant first-half showing, but they were not and could have paid the penalty as Almeria pulled a goal back in the 47th minute when Wellington Silva's cross deflected in off Balenziaga.

That was only the second goal Athletic have conceded in six matches since suffering a crushing 5-2 home mauling at the hands of Barcelona and gave Almeria an unexpected boost.

However, the Andalusian side could not get any closer and Athletic had the chances to finish the game off well before the end, with Guillermo and Williams unable to take two of the home side's openings.

That kept Almeria in contention right until the end but opportunities were few and far between and they ended up finishing the match with 10 men as Fran Velez picked up a second yellow card in stoppage time.

Athletic Club beat Celta de Vigo

Celta Vigo 1-2 Athletic Bilbao: Los Leones roar back into the top 10

Athletic Club Bilbao seem to have finally found the form they’ve been missing throughout the entire season but face a Celta Vigo side who are firing at will and waiting for the goals to start pouring in again.

Celta Vigo hadn’t beaten Athletic Bilbao in Balaidos since March 2003 and the Basque side were determined to continue that streak.

Celta controlled possession through the first 15 minutes of the match but it would all quickly come falling apart as Augusto Fernandez brought down Iker Muniain in the penalty area, giving Athletic a penalty, which Aritz Aduriz converted to put his side up early.

Athletic could smell blood in the water as Aduriz went back several minutes later forcing Sergio to make a tremendous save and De Marcos forcing the issue a bit later on.

Celta’s Larrivey would try a header, but it Athletic held the momentum and scored their second goal of the evening in the 31st minute, a brilliant effort by the in-form Mikel San Jose to score Aduriz’s rebound.

Celta would attempt to recover and regain their composure, but were unable to put Athletic in danger going into the break.

Athletic came roaring out the gates to start the second half and tested Celta early, but the Galicians would soon turn the game in their favour with Larrivey scoring in the 63rd minute to get back in the game.

However, Celta were unable to overcome a motivated Athletic side and despite San Jose getting sent off with two yellow cards in the 85th minute, Ernesto Valverde’s side came away with three points and climbed back into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

Celta de Vigo extend Athletic Bilbao's woes 1-1

Celta Vigo swipe a point from Athletico Bilbao to stay sixth in La Liga

Celta Vigo striker Nolito scored midway through the second half to end Athletic Club's hopes of halting a winless run which now stretches to seven games.

Ernesto Valverde's Primera Division strugglers had made a dream start when Aritz Aduriz put them in front from the penalty spot with just six minutes on the clock.

But Nolito's 73rd minute effort salvaged a 1-1 draw for Celta who were keen to respond to their 3-1 home defeat to Villarreal in their last match prior to the international break.

The home side did not need to wait long to edge in front after Sergi Gomez handled in the box and referee David Fernandez pointed to the spot.

Aduriz stepped up to fire the penalty past Sergio Alvarez in the Celta goal and Athletic could have doubled their lead when Markel Susaeta shot just wide six minutes later.

Alvarez kept his side in the game as he made a fine save from Susaeta on 15 minutes then five minutes later tipped an Aymeric Laporte header round the post.

The visitors failed to pose any kind of threat to Gorka Iraizoz's goal in the first period and Athletic stayed on top in the second half as an Oscar De Marcos header drifted just wide.

Aduriz shot just wide again before the hosts were made to pay for their missed chances as Celta drew level midway through the second period.

Nolito pounced to fire home a right-foot effort from 12 yards after being played in by Fabian Orellana on the left.

The same player fired over the bar with six minutes left while Athletic's best late chance came from an Ibai free-kick which sailed into the arms of the impressive Alvarez.

Messi and Neymar team up as Barcelona conquers gritty Athletic Bilbao 2-0

The Messi and Neymar show

Barcelona earned a deserved 2-0 victory over Athletic de Bilbao thanks to some fine link-up play betweenLeo Messi and Neymar. The two Barça stars took the game by the scruff of its neck in the second half to defeat the Basque side, who had seemed comfortable, but posed little threat in attack.

With the score at 0-0, Luis Enrique brought Neymar on in search of the winning goal. In the 74th minute, Andrés Iniesta found the Brazilian who eventually played a through ball to Messi, but the Argentine shot poorly from close range.

Another good spell of Barça pressure in the 78th minute saw Sergio Busquets win back possession and feed Messi, who slipped the ball through to the onrushing Neymar through the middle. The Brazilian ran on to slide his finish past the keeper from inside the box for his first goal in La Liga this season.

The Catalan side had the chance to double their lead one minute later after Messi and Neymar took advantage of a mistake by Aymeric Laporte, but the Brazilian's cross to Sandro was cut out by goalkeeper Gorka.

The Brazilian and Argentine linked up for a third time, when Messi jinked into the Bilbao area and squared the ball to Neymar. The latter took a touch and placed the ball in off Iraizoz's left-hand post to make it 2-0. Neymar may have supplied the finish but the home fans' chants of 'Messi, Messi, Messi' praised the man who made the goal.

Aduritz saves Bilbao from Villareal 1-1

Ariz Aduritz

Yahoo UK Sports

Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo saved Aritz Aduriz's 40th-minute penalty at the Madrigal before teenager Oliver Torres slipped the ball across goal for Tomas Pina to fire the home side ahead two minutes into the second half.

The match turned when Villarreal defender Gabriel earned a second yellow card and was sent off in the 66th minute and Aduriz atoned for his penalty miss with a fine headed equaliser seven minutes from time. With 10 games left, Bilbao have 52 points in fourth, six ahead of Basque rivals Real Sociedad, who are fifth on 46 points thanks to Sunday's 1-0 win at home to Valencia.

Promoted Villarreal, who have impressed on their return to the top flight, have 45 points in sixth, one ahead of seventh-placed Sevilla.

"The penalty was a bit of a blow but we managed to regroup after their goal and get the draw," Aduriz said.

"We started to dominate towards the end and we are more or less satisfied. There is still a long way to go and we have to take things step by step."

Villarreal midfielder Torres, on loan from Atletico Madrid, said: "The penalty save gave us a bit of a boost and we came out strongly in the second half. We managed to get ahead on the scoreboard but the sending off changed things and you really notice when you have a man less against such a good team," added the 19-year-old. "We got a point but we are disappointed because we wanted the win."

Real Madrid are three clear at the top on 70 points after they won 1-0 at Malaga on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid are second on 67 thanks to their 1-0 success at home to Espanyol and champions Barcelona, who play at Real on Sunday in the Clasico, are a point further back in third after they thrashed Osasuna 7-0 on Sunday.

Espanyol beat Athletic Bilbao at San Mames 2-1

Skysports.com

Athletic Bilbao's unbeaten league record at their new San Mames stadium came to an end on Sunday as Espanyol claimed a deserved 2-1 win.Goals by Sergio Garcia and Diego Colotto ensured Espanyol wrapped up a notable double, having beaten Athletic in September's reverse fixture, and also making it back-to-back league wins after their 1-0 victory over Granada last time out.

Carlos Gurpegi hit Athletic's reply early in the second period but it could not fire the hosts to an improved overall performance and Colotto duly made them pay with the winner after 65 minutes.

Aritz Aduriz was sent off late on to wrap up a miserable night for the hosts, whose unbeaten home run in La Liga came to an end at the 13th time of asking. Athletic had won nine of their previous 12 league matches at their new home, although they did lose to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

Esponyol stunned the home fans as they went ahead with just six minutes gone, Simao Sabrosa playing in Garcia who made no mistake with a low drive into the left corner.

The visitors were almost pegged back just before the half-hour when Ibai Gomez's free-kick was met with a superb diving header by Gurpegi but Francisco Casilla produced a fine save to turn the ball away.

Esponyol's lead was nearly doubled in the 38th minute but Christian Stuani saw his effort from close range come back off the post.

The hosts needed just 12 minutes of the second period to bring the scores level, Gomez again combining with Gurpegi from a set-piece, with Casilla on this occasion unable to keep out the defender's header.

But the home side were only level for eight minutes before Espanyol took the lead for a second time, Simao's inswinging corner finding its way into the net off Colotto, who did not appear to know too much about it but celebrated as if he meant it.

The visiting side continued to press and very nearly made it three in the 75th minute when Stuani broke away down the right channel and fired in a low shot across goal that Gorka Iraizoz cleared with a firm hand down low.

Stuani had another chance in the 84th minute but fired wastefully at Iraizoz when a placed effort surely would have found the target, while moments later Athletic's hopes were as good as over as Aduriz received his marching orders after picking up a second caution for a foul on Victor Sanchez.

Isco scores double to lift Real Madrid over Athletic Bilbao 3-1

"Isco" Alarcon celebrates as he scored the opening goal

Isco                                                             26’	Ibai Gomez                                                  9’
Ronaldo                                                     45’
Isco                                                            72’

Isco                                                             26’

Ibai Gomez                                                  9’

Ronaldo                                                     45’

Isco                                                            72’

Francisco "Isco"Alarcon continued to make waves for Real Madrid as he scores a double in their last outing against Athletic Bilbao.

Isco, the former Malaga midfielder, received a long ball from Karim Benzema and beat Bilbao goal keeper Iago Herrerin and put the Los Blancos ahead in the 26th minute mark. Isco again scored another from a pass from Karim Benzema initially intended for Angel Di Maria but which found Isco to put the Los Blancos beyond reach in 72nd minute. Isco also scored the game winner in Real Madrid's opening game against Real Betis. Madrid's other goal is courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo who scored a header before the end of the first half from a free kick by Angel Di Maria. 

Just after Real Madrid went ahead, Bilbao's opportunity immediately came through two free kicks from Beñat.  Luka Modric pushed Mikel Rico for the first kick and Bilbao got another one after Sami Khedira was ruled for a handball in the Madrid wall.  Beñat's second attempt however went wide. 

The second opportunity came as Bilbao launched a three pronged counter attack with Beñat, Markel Susaeta and Andoni Iraola only to be stymied by the timely interception by Luka Modric.  Bilbao's persistence however was not unrewarded as substitute Ibai Gomez finally scored a goal in the 79th minute.  Andoni Iraola passed the ball to Oscar de Marcos on the right side. Marcos found Markel Susaeta inside the penalty box who passed to an open and waiting Ibai Gomez to give Bilbao its consolation goal. 

Real Madrid's win is its third in as many starts to put them within striking distance with its arch rival and league leading Barcelona which beat Valencia in a thrilling 3-2 win at Mestalla.