First win in four for Bilbao

Aritz Aduriz's first-half header earned struggling Athletic Bilbao their first win in four games to lift them away from the Primera Division relegation zone.

Aritz Aduriz's first-half header earned struggling Athletic Bilbao their first win in four games to lift them away from the Primera Division relegation zone. The striker converted Ibai Gomez's cross for his 12th goal in all competitions this season to give the home side some welcome relief, their last three games having yielded just a single point sandwiched between 5-1 defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona. The result also took them three points ahead of their opponents, whose attacking threat was limited throughout a lacklustre game. Celta's Iago Aspas twice tried his luck from long range in the opening quarter-hour, but with no reward. Ibai had Bilbao's first sight of goal, but fired wide of the near post from 20 yards. But Ibai was the provider when his side took the lead soon afterwards, crossing from the left for Aduriz to beat keeper Javi Varas with a downward header. Defender Jonas Ramalho ambitiously sought to double the lead, but his 25-yard shot sailed over. Aspas fired over from 12 yards as Celta failed to get back on terms before the interval. A scrappy start to the second half produced little by way of goalmouth action, with a series of set pieces from Ibai failing to produce a chance. Bilbao eventually threatened through Fernando Amorebieta, but the defender's header was blocked by Hugo Mallo. Enrique De Lucas drew an uncertain save from Gorka Iraizoz at the other end before Michael Krohn-Delhi's corner was headed wide by Borja Oubina. Krohn-Delhi fired wide from 20 yards deep into stoppage time as Celta's last chance of an equaliser drifted away.