Ernesto Valverde celebrated signing a new contract as Athletic Bilbao boss with a 2-0 victory at Sporting Gijon. Valverde, who this week extended his stay with the Basque club until the summer of 2017, watched his team earn a third straight win to move them up to sixth place in La Liga, although Aymeric Laporte's unfortunate red card in the second half soured the mood somewhat. Athletic might ...Full Story »

Athletic Bilbao remain in the hunt for a place in next season's Europa League competition after they won 1-0 at Primera Division bottom side Cordoba on Friday.Midfielder Benat earned Athletic all three points in fine style when he exquisitely curled home from the edge of the area early in the second half.The victory moves Ernesto Valverde's side level on points with seventh-placed Malaga, who ...Full Story »

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Benat Etxebarria hopes the agonising manner in which his team lost to Porto in midweek will spur them on to beat Almeria. The Basques lost 2-1 at the Dragao stadium to a late goal by Ricardo Quaresma after Guillermo Fernandez's equaliser, leaving them bottom of their Champions League group. It was the second time in four days that Ernesto Valverde's side were left cu...Full Story »

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Benat Etxebarria has declared that he and his team-mates are determined to compensate for their poor performance at Atletico Madrid last weekend by beating Levante on Saturday. The Basques were defeated 2-0 by Diego Simeone's side and only mustered two attempts on goal all game. "We didn't give as good a showing of ourselves as we wanted and we are all keen to turn i...Full Story »

The agent of Real Betis midfielder Benat Etxebarria has refuted speculation that Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have approached him over a summer transfer. Benat, who began his career at Athletic Bilbao, has had an excellent season with Betis, who are currently 7th in La Liga and vying for a place in Europe. His fine form has seen him linked with a move to Bayern, who will be under a new Sp...Full Story »

Heads up for Juan Carlos and Alvaro Albeloa. Etxebarria Benat's first-half strike dealt a heavy blow to Real Madrid's defence of their Primera Division title as Real Betis claimed a famous 1-0 win. Jose Mourinho's men dominated throughout yet they could not find a way through Betis' defence and goalkeeper Adrian in particular after they had fallen behind to Benat's first-half strike from 25 ya...Full Story »

Etxebarria Benat's first-half strike dealt a heavy blow to Real Madrid's defence of their Primera Division title as Real Betis claimed a famous 1-0 win. Jose Mourinho's men dominated throughout yet they could not find a way through Betis' defence and goalkeeper Adrian in particular after they had fallen behind to Benat's first-half strike from 25 yards. The defeat was Madrid's first in nine le...Full Story »

Benat Etxebarria fired home an injury-time free-kick to hand Real Betis a dramatic 2-1 derby victory and deal a potentially fatal blow to Sevilla's hopes of claiming a UEFA Europa League qualifying place. Etxebarria's low drive dragged Betis level on points with their neighbours on 46 points but leaves the pair four points off sixth-placed Atletico Madrid with two Primera Liga games to go. The...Full Story »

Benat Etxebarria believes Real Betis are capable of more than just survival at the end of the season but has admitted that staying in the Primera Division remains their primary objective. The midfielder starred as Betis won 2-0 at Zaragoza on Monday night to move six points clear of the drop zone and he is convinced that if they keep their current form going they will soon be able to start look...Full Story »

Promoted Real Betis made it three wins from three at the start of the Primera Division season after seeing off Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in a hugely entertaining encounter at San Mames. Betis stormed into an early 2-0 lead thanks to efforts from Benat Etxebarria and Nacho and, although Athletic pulled a goal back through Oscar De Marcos, Salva Sevilla's penalty on the stoke of half-time restored the ...Full Story »