BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz nodded the first goal and set up another in a 3-1 win over Espanyol at San Mames Stadium on Friday, as the Basque side consolidated their turnaround in La Liga by climbing up to ninth place.

Bilbao were on top but needed some luck to take the lead in the 29th minute when Aduriz’s header deflected off Christian Stuani and went past stranded keeper Kiko Casilla.

Aduriz, just back from missing two games with a muscle injury, helped double the lead in the 44th when he gracefully dribbled through the defence before slipping a throughball for Borja Viguera to tap home.

Bilbao midfielder Ander Iturraspe scored from long distance in the 78th, with the ball going in off the post, before Victor Sanchez got the visitors’ consolation goal in the 84th.

Bilbao began the season in mediocre fashion but are slowly starting to find their form.

They have tightened up in defence and have now gone five La Liga games without defeat. But Bilbao, with one point from four matches, have already failed to qualify for the Champions League last 16.

Espanyol had won at Bilbao the past two seasons, but Sergio Gonzalez’s side were outclassed from the start. The Barcelona-based club remained in 12th place before the rest of the round’s games and are winless in five matches.

Published in Dawn, November 23th , 2014