La Liga: Athletic Bilbao suffer damaging blow in their bid to secure a Europa League spot
Monday 8 May 2017 00:06, UK
Athletic Bilbao suffered a damaging blow in their bid to secure a Europa League berth for next season as they lost 1-0 to Alaves.
A second-half goal from Theo Hernandez means the visitors are clinging onto sixth place on goal difference after rivals Real Sociedad earned a draw on Friday night.
The highly-rated Hernandez grabbed his first La Liga goal in style when he lashed home a left-footed shot from the edge of the box following a corner.
Bilbao's defeat ended a run of four consecutive wins and also ended their slim hopes of reaching the top four.
Valencia halted a run of three straight league defeats as they cruised to a 4-1 win over already-relegated Osasuna.
Ezequiel Garay scored twice to give the home side a 2-0 lead before the interval and further goals from Simone Zaza and Rodrigo Moreno sealed victory, with Miguel Olavide netting a stoppage-time consolation for Osasuna.
Deportivo La Coruna remain in the relegation picture after a 2-1 home defeat by Espanyol.
Victory would have guaranteed Deportivo's safety but Sporting Gijon's win over Las Palmas means they are five points behind with two games left.
The hosts never recovered from a poor start. Leo Baptistao gave Espanyol the lead in the 14th minute and Gerard Moreno doubled it just before the half hour.
Florin Andone pulled one back two minutes into the second half but Deportivo could not find an equaliser despite 60 per cent possession and 21 efforts on goal.
Malaga climbed above Celta Vigo into 11th place after a 3-0 victory at La Rosaleda.
Javier Ontiveros gave the hosts the lead with a long-range effort in the 26th minute and Recio doubled the advantage in the 56th minute from the penalty spot after Gustavo Cabral fouled Sandro Ramirez.
Malaga put the finishing touch to the win in injury time when Ramirez tucked away a third.
It was a fifth defeat in a row for Celta, who must now focus on trying to overturn a 1-0 deficit to Manchester United in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
