Athletic: Iraizoz, Iraola (Unai López 76’), Laporte, San José, Balenziaga; Iturraspe, Mikel Rico; Susaeta, De Marcos, Ibai Gómez (Viguera 87‘); Guillermo (Aduríz 78’). 4-2-3-1.
BATE: Soroko; Olekhnovich, Filipenko, Tubic, Khagush; Yablonski (Baga 77’), Aleksandr Volodko (Signevich 60‘); Gordeychuk, Karnitski, Maksim Volodko; Rodionov (Likhtarovich 83’). 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 47. San José. Struck first time volley past Soroko from Susaeta corner.
2-0. 88. Susaeta. Picked up Viguera square pass and drove shot past keeper.
Athletic Bilbao made sure of a place in the Europa League after a 2-0 victory over BATE Borisov on Wednesday evening. The Basque side had no chance of reaching the knock-out stage, but they still needed at least a draw to tie up third spot. Having lost against the Belarus side earlier in the season though, and having been beaten at the weekend by bottom club Córdoba, there were some nerves at first. And although Ibai Gómez and De Marcos brought saves out of Soroko, and Mikel Rico, Iturraspe and Guillermo all went close, the scoreline remained unchanged at the break. Just two minutes after the restart however San José got on the end of a Susaeta corner to sweep a shot into the net, and Guillermo could have added to the lead when he shot against the upright soon afterwards. Ibai brought a couple more saves out of Soroko, and the visitors didn’t even manage a shot at goal until Volodko fired an effort wide with a quarter of an hour to go. Susaeta made sure of the result though after Viguera set him up with two minutes left on the clock, setting an unwanted new record for BATE, who have let 24 goals in their six group games this season, two more than the previous record.