Athletic keep in European hunt with Osasuna win

Athletic Bilbao maintained their charge for a place in Europe with a comfortable win over Osasuna thanks to early goals from Fran Yeste and Fernando Llorente on Saturday.

A below-strength Osasuna side with several players in the treatment room were a goal down inside the first minute when Yeste knocked the ball home from close range after being set up by Llorente.

Osasuna offered little in response and it was Llorente himself who added a second after 12 minutes with a clinical drive from the edge of the area.

Athletic took their foot off the pedal in the second half and eased to a victory which moves them up to sixth place in the table.

With Barcelona in Abu Dhabi, where they beat Estudiantes 2-1 after extra-time to win the Club World Cup, Real Madrid will aim to close the gap at the top of the table against struggling Real Zaragoza later on Saturday.

It will be a baptism of fire for Zaragoza caretaker coach Jose Gay, who took his first training session on Tuesday after replacing Marcelino Garcia, who was fired after Zaragoza lost to Bilbao.

He will have his work cut out in the Bernabeu Stadium, with the side having already leaked 29 goals, the most in the Spanish top flight.

“I hope to transmit to the team the enthusiasm that I had when I arrived,” said Gay, who is confident of his side’s chances despite the size of the task.

“Of course we can win this match. Obviously it is not going to be easy but if we play well then we can get the three points.”

A victory for Real would put them two points behind Barca with the same number of games played.

They have responded well since their defeat in the ?Clasico’, winning their last three matches, and can count on the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, missing from the last game against Valencia through suspension.

Also in action on Saturday are third-placed Sevilla, who will be keen for a win over Getafe after two consecutive draws at home against Valladolid and Malaga that have dropped them off the pace at the top.