Athletic Bilbao moved to within a point of sixth and automatic qualification for Europe with a comfortable 3-1 triumph over Granada at San Mames.
Markel Susaeta gave Ernesto Valverde’s side an 11th-minute lead but it was quickly cancelled out by Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez’s leveller for El Grana, however goals either side of the break from Inigo Lekue and Mikel San Jose stretched Athletic’s unbeaten home run in La Liga to twelve matches.
The Basques suffered a disappointing early elimination from the Europa League on Thursday after losing 4-3 on aggregate to Cypriot side APOEL and now have set their sights on qualification for next season’s tournament.
Granada failed to build on last week’s comprehensive 4-1 thumping of Real Betis and are still to register a victory on the road all season – with three draws and ten defeats in their thirteen outings.
Lucas Alcaraz’s side now host Alaves on Wednesday night while Athletic Club travel to Sevilla the following evening.
