La Liga round-up: Valencia beat Athletic Bilbao to go third
Sunday 1 October 2017 22:48, UK
Valencia held off an Athletic Bilbao fightback to move up to third in La Liga with a 3-2 win at the Mestalla on Sunday.
A Simone Zaza effort and Daniel Parejo penalty put Valencia into a 2-0 half-time lead, but Aritz Aduriz pulled one back before the hour for Athletic.
Rodrigo restored a two-goal advantage, but Raul Garcia struck 14 minutes from time to force Valencia to negotiate a tricky ending.
Goals were also in plentiful supply at Anoeta, where Real Sociedad and Real Betis played out a thrilling 4-4 draw.
Visitors Betis went ahead after six minutes when Paraguayan striker Antonio Sanabria scored for the third successive game but Willian Jose soon levelled. Mikel Oyarzabal netted in the 26th minute to put Sociedad in front but Zouhair Feddal levelled matters again two minutes later.
Veteran Joaquin put Betis back ahead moments into the second half, but Sociedad replied again through Xabi Prieto.
Substitute Sergio Leon looked as if he had won it for Betis six minutes from time but Diego Llorente's 86th-minute header salvaged an incredible draw.
Leaders Barcelona beat Las Palmas 3-0 at an empty Nou Camp and Real Madrid were 2-0 victors at home to Espanyol while in the day's other game, Cedric Bakumbu scored a hat-trick as Villarreal beat Eibar 3-0 at La Ceramica.
