Athletic: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga; San José, Beñat; Susaeta (Mikel Rico 74’), Raúl García (Bóveda 85‘), Iñaki Williams (Muniain 87‘); Aduríz. 4-2-3-1.
Levante: Diego Mariño; Pedro López (Deyverson 78‘), David Navarro, Feddal, Toño; Simao (Verza 69‘); Xumetra (Morales 69‘), Jefferson Lerma, Camarasa, Rubén García; Ghilas. 4-1-4-1.
Goals:
1-0. 55. San José. Ran in to angle header past Mariño from Beñat corner.
2-0. 82. Williams. Latched on to Aduríz pass and turned shot across keeper.
Yellow cards: Toño 37’, Simao 39’, Feddal 63’, Pedro López 74’ Lerma 91’.
Athletic Bilbao are closing in on the European spots, a 2-0 win against bottom club Levante on Sunday taking them up to seventh, just two points below Deportivo. Ghilas wasted a couple of chances to put the visitors in front in the first half, but Susaeta fired a shot against the post, and Aduríz brought a good save out of Diego Mariño before San José got on the end of Beñat’s corner to head the opener some ten minutes in to the second half. Aduríz tested the visitng keeper again after that, and with eight minutes to go Williams ran on to an Aduríz through ball to wrap things up. That gave Valverde the opportunity to bring on Muniain, returning after a long injury lay-off, and only another good save from Mariño prevented him from celebrating his return with a goal.