Athletic Bilbao eased to a superb 5-1 victory at Osasuna, cementing their place in the fourth Champion’s League spot.
Athletic’s previously off-form striker Aritz Aduriz regained his scoring touch. He grabbed two goals and set up another for substitute Ibai Gomez. A man of the match performance.
Osasuna are only three points from the drop zone now. Their problem all season has been scoring goals, but when Armanteros scored a tenth minute free-kick equaliser to cancel out a fourth minute goal from Athletic’s Susaeta, things were looking promising. Little did they know that the floodgates were about to open.
Aduriz grabbed his first goal on 16 minutes. It was a gift from Osasuna keeper Hernandez that he cooly prodded over the line. His second came on 62 minutes as he knocked in an accurate cross from Herrera. It was game over for Osasuna, they have often struggled to score one goal this season – they were never going to manage three.
Things got worse for the home side when Arribas received a red card on 78 minutes. It was a reckless challenge on Susaeta that earned him a second yellow. He had nothing to complain about, but that didn’t stop his protestations.
It was exhibition football for Athletic in the last ten minutes. Ibai’s goal was a delicate lob over Hernandez after a brilliant run. Four minutes later Sola made it 5-1 to Athletic with just two minutes remaining, converting from close range.
It could have been worse for Osasuna, it is no exaggeration to say that Ernesto Valverde’s side could have had eight. They are now five points clear of Villareal in fourth place, and after seven straight wins in La Liga must now be firm favourites for place in next season’s Champion’s League.
