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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Villarreal see off Athletic Bilbao

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BARCELONA: Villarreal beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 to keep their Champions League dream alive on Friday night, as fifth met sixth in La Liga. Fran Escriba’s side held on with 10 men after Victor Ruiz was sent off, but earned their victory and are now four points behind fourth-placed Sevilla, who have played a game less but are enduring a slump in form. Ruiz sent the hosts ahead in the 17th minute, slamming home at the back post after Samu Castillejo’s deflected shot came back off the post.


But just three minutes later Athletic defender Aymeric Laporte equalised, volleying in Benat Extebarria’s corner.


Villarreal were dominant but Athletic came closest to scoring in the remainder of the first half, with Aritz Aduriz’ header striking the crossbar in stoppage time.


They paid the price when Cedric Bakambu ran through and slotted home to restore the Yellow Submarine’s advantage just after the break, before Adrian Lopez stabbed home the third, albeit from an offside position in the 57th minute.


“It was a great game against a very difficult Athletic. They are a team who are doing very well, they are always a team that cause problems but we had a great game,” Lopez said on Gol TV


“We had more of the ball, created more chances and we deserved the victory. With the red card it was harder still, but the team defended very well.


“The important thing was to win today to increase our [points]advantage on Athletic, so we’re very happy. We try to find a winning dynamic and to finish as high up the table as possible. The important thing now is to win the next game.”


Ruiz’s red card complicated things for Villarreal, dismissed after an ugly tackle on Inaki Williams, but goalkeeper Andres Fernandez made a couple of smart stops to keep his team ahead until the end. Bilbao player Oscar de Marcos said: “The first half was balanced. We had chances, but in the end football is like this. We tried, but we couldn’t do it.” — DPA


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