Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Real Mallorca
Mallorca resumed fourth spot in the intriguing battle for the final UEFA Champions League spot with a comprehensive away victory over Athletic Bilbao. With Sevilla having briefly assumed fourth place the Barralets had to win and did so thanks to goals from Gonzalo Castro, captain Nunes and Aritz Aduriz while Fernando Llorente netted for los Leones.
Llorente almost had the hosts in front early in the first half, heading goalwards from a Gaizka Toquero cross but Dudu Aouate was on hand to make a fine save from a close range header. The hosts were marginally the better side in an evenly contested opening half hour and Igor Gabilondo could have given them the lead 17 minutes in but couldn’t direct his shot on target after a Llorente knock down.
Mallorca had chances too but failed to trouble Gorka Iraizoz in the Bilbao goal with a long range effort from Cameroonian striker Pierre Webo comfortable for the ‘keeper while a Nunes header late in the half wasn’t far away. Just as it seemed likely the first period would end scoreless Mallorca capitalised from some late pressure, thanks to good work from Borja Valero, as Castro headed home from close range after a short corner.
Coach Gregorio Manzano would have been furious that his side failed to close out the remainder of the half in front as los Leones countered to equalise in first half stoppage time with Llorente rising to meet Ander Iturraspe’s well delivered cross to level.
Whatever Manzano said at the break obviously had the desired effect as the visitors stormed to an early second half lead as captain Nunes fired home from Julio Alvarez’s cross four minutes after the interval.
They doubled that advantage minutes later as Alvarez once again provided the telling pass, slipping an excellent through ball into the path of Aritz Aduriz who raced onto it before turning onto his right foot and smashing past Iraizoz to give the Barralets breathing space.
Alvarez was in devastating form, gifting Aduriz another glorious opportunity which Iraizoz did well to save before Alvarez had the Bilbao ‘keeper stretched once more smashing goalwards from Valero’s lay-off but his shot was well blocked by Ruben.
Bilbao rallied in the latter stages of the second half but despite decent efforts from Llorente, Javi Martinez and Andoni Iraola, they failed to test Aouate and the visitors held on for a deserved win.
The victory, just Mallorca’s third on the road this season, sees them resume fourth spot with a two point cushion over Sevilla while los Leones sit in eighth with work to do in the final three games if they are to secure a place in Europe for next season.
from Goal.com