First Division - Day 4

Villarreal 3 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Villarreal: Areola; Mario Gaspar, Eric Bailly, Víctor Ruíz, Jaume Costa; Nahuel (Denis Suárez 74‘), Tomás Pina, Bruno, Samu Castillejo; Bakambu (Leo Baptistao 15‘), Soldado (Adrián López 46‘). 4-4-2.
Athletic: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Gurpegi, Laporte, Balenziaga; San José, Mikel Rico (Beñat 68‘); Sabin, Eraso (Raúl García 62‘), Aketxe; Kike Sola (Aduríz 62‘). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 43.Bruno (penalty). After Gurpegi brought down Leo Baptistao in the area.
2-0. 67. Mario Gaspar. Picked up Adrián pass and fired long shot wide of Iraizoz.
3-0. 80. Leo Baptistao. Collected Adrián pass and struck angled shot past keeper.
3-1. 90. Aduríz. Steered far post header in off crossbar from San José centre.

Yellow cards: Laporte 11’, Bruno 24’, Baptistao 45’, Gurpegi 49’, Nahuel 50’, eric Bailly 60’, Aduríz 64’, De Marcos 88’.

Villarreal won 3-1 against fellow Europa League contenders Athletic Bilbao on Sunday to keep up their unbeaten record in La Liga this season. Both teams made several changes having played their European ties last Thursday, and there were few chances before Bruno opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Gurpegi fouled Leo Baptistao shortly before the break. Eraso, Laporte and San José all went close for the visitors either side of half time, but midway through the second half Mario picked up a short pass from Tomás Pina and curled a fierce shot past Iraizoz. Baptistao headed against the bar before picking up an Adrián assist to score a third with ten minutes to go, and Aduríz headed a last minute consolation after San José turned the ball back across goal following a corner.