Spain round-up: Bilbao secure first win

Athletic Club Bilbao secured a crucial away win away at fellow strugglers RC Recreativo de Huelva today, as second-half goals from Carlos Gurpegui and Tiko set up a 2-1 victory.

Close-range finish
The Basque side went into the game without a win and with pressure mounting on their German coach Jupp Heynckes. They looked short of ideas for much of the match, but a moment of magic from Joseba Etxeberría set them on their way to victory just past the hour mark. The Spanish international winger skipped past four defenders as he cut in from the left and crossed for an unmarked Gurpegui to tap in from a couple of metres out.

Etxeberría involved again
Etxeberría was also involved in the second, as his pass set Santiago Ezquerro racing away on a quick break with five minutes to go. Ezquerro skipped past the last defender and crossed for Tiko to supply another simple finish.

Late scare
However, the away side had to endure a tense finish to the game after Xisco pulled a goal back with a neat left-foot finish a couple of minutes from time, but Bilbao held on comfortably enough for a result that takes them up to 14th place with four points from five games. Recreativo stay bottom of the table with a single point, and will be ruing the opportunities they missed to punish some flat-footed Bilbao defending early on.