Athletic move a step closer to European football

Athletic Club downed Elche CF 2-3 to move closer to a UEFA Europa League spot. The Basque side came back from two Jonathas goals to take the three points.

Elche went into the game knowing they were already safe, while Athletic were looking for three points that would move them closer to the Europa League. The game's first chance fell to the home side, however Jonathas could not beat Iago Herrerín after just eight minutes.

However the forward made amends after 32'. Fayçal, who was a live wire throughout the first half, played a neat one-two with Jonathas, who sped past Mikel San José before beating Herrerín. Just before the break at the the Estadio Martínez Valero the Brazilian made it 2-0 after finishing off an Adrián González free kick.

The Basque side then came out in the second half with more intensity, however Przemysław Tytoń in the home side's goal pulled off a couple of smart saves. He kept out Beñat's effort after 52', before showing speed and agility to keep out Iñaki Williams's drive. There was little he could do after 80 minutes, however, when Ager Aketxe latched onto an Aritz Aduriz ball before beating the Poland international left-footed.

When it looked as if the scoreline would remain the same, San José connected with a spectacular volley to level things up from the edge of the box, before Williams gave the visitors the three points thanks to his effort in added time.