Aduriz gets Athletic back to winning ways

Athletic Club achieved a 0-2 win against Levante UD in a game corresponding to matchday 21 of the Liga BBVA. As such, the team coached by Ernesto Valverde conclude a happy week having qualified for the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

The game was very close during the first half although Levante has several clear chances to go ahead. Ten minutes into the game, both teams made great attacks into the rival's box. However, neither was accurate enough in front of goal. As time passed, Levante threatened Gorka Iraizoz' goal, and in the 21', the keeper made a fantastic save from a great Simão Mate header. José Luis Morales turned the right wing into a runway towards the box and made various attacks on goal.

After the restart, the roles were reversed and it was Athletic who created danger. In the 48' Diego Mariño managed to clear a ball off the line, and a minute later Ernesto Valverde's men scored. Óscar de Marcos provided the assist to Artiz Aduriz, after some great control, he turned at opening with scoring with a left-hooded shot. Soon after, Iker Muniain came closed to making it 0-2 but his header went wide.

Levante recovered well from going a goal down, and within barely two minutes, they created two clear attacks. The first came following a strategic move from a free-kick but Víctor Casadesús could not hit the target. On the other occasion, Iraizoz made double save that prevented the home side from drawing level. Levante's fight was not to be rewarded and two minutes from the final whistle, Aduriz sealed the game following a counterattack by Markel Susaeta. The win means that Athletic are now on 23 points and it moves them away from the relegation zone. Levante are bottom of the table on 16 points.