First Division - Day 28

Villarreal 2 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Villarreal: Diego López; Ángel, Godín, Fuentes, Capdevila; Eguren, Marcos Senna; Cazorla, Nihat (Llorente 65'), Ibagaza (Mati Fernández 82'); Rossi (Bruno 88'). 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Gorka Iraizoz; Iraola, Aitor Ocio, Amorebieta, Koikili; Susaeta, Orbaiz (Iñigo 86'), Javi Martínez, Gabilondo; Toquero (Garmendia 59'), Llorente. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Ángel, Godín, Nihat, Ibagaza for Javi Venta, Cani, Mati Fernández, Pires / Athletic: Susaeta, Gabilondo for David López, Yeste.

Goals:
1-0. 68. Cazorla. Collected Rossi pass and beat Iraizoz with angled shot.
2-0. 92. Mati Fernández. Picked up cross and cur pass two defenders to score.

Yellow cards: Capdevila 06', Ibagaza 21', Susaeta 33', 78', Eguren 60', Amorebieta 74', Senna 79' / red cards: Susaeta 78'.

Villarreal stay in fourth spot, six points behind Sevilla, after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in the first match on Saturday evening. Nihat had an early chance saved and Rossi put another effort wide in the first half, but new Spanish international Diego López had to be on his toes to keep out an effort from Gabilondo. Rossi and Nihat both failed to convert chances after the restart, but midway through the second half Cazorla picked up a pass from Rossi and fired an angled shot past Iraizoz to give the home side the lead.

Both Llorentes featured after that, Villarreal's Joseba firing a shot just wide and Athletic's Fernando forcing Diego López in to a good save. Rossi fired a shot over the bar soon afterwards, and the visitors were left with ten men when Susaeta picked up a second booking. The visitors were still in the game though right up until the second minute of injury time, when substitute Mati Fernández made sure of the victory with a well taken second goal.