Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Hercules - Bilbao moving up

Posted Monday, January 24, 2011 by PA

Athletic Bilbao moved into the Primera Division's top six with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at home to Hercules.

Javi Martinez put Athletic ahead in the fifth minute and Fernando Llorente added a second early in the second half.

Iker Muniain's 63rd-minute third sealed a victory which sent the hosts above Atletico Madrid in the table and into the European spots.

It was Athletic's eighth home win of the season.

They were on the front foot from the off and Gaizka Toquero's cross had to be tipped over the bar by Hercules goalkeeper Juan Calatayud.

And the hosts went ahead when David Lopez's outswinging corner from the right picked out Javi Martinez at the far post - and he planted a header into the top corner.

Calatayud parried a Lopez effort from distance and shortly after the restart Toquero's header came back off the bar as Athletic continued to dominate.

Nelson Valdez shot wide on a rare foray forward for Hercules before Athletic doubled their lead with another header in the 58th minute.

Llorente met Andoni Iraola's cross from the right and sent a close-range header into the roof of the net.

Five minutes later and the contest was settled as Muniain made it 3-0, shooting into the bottom right corner from the left side of the area.

Valdez had another chance to snatch a consolation for the visitors, but his header from six yards was held by keeper Gorka Iraizoz as Athletic ran out deserved winners.