Espanyol 2 : 1 Athletic Bilbao - Alonso winner boosts Espanyol hopes

Posted Monday, May 02, 2011 by PA

Espanyol breathed fresh life into their European hopes after defeating fellow high-flyers Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at the Cornella-El Prat stadium.

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo put the hosts ahead in the 35th minute and although Athletic equalised just before the break through Markel Susaeta, Ivan Alonso netted a 77th-minute winner for Espanyol.

The victory means eighth-placed Espanyol, who had lost nine of their previous 13 matches, move to within three points of seven-placed Athletic with four games remaining.

Espanyol, whose coach Mauricio Pochettino has agreed a new contract tying him to the club until 2014, started well and Alonso and Javi Marquez both brought saves out of visiting goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz early on.

The hosts then took the lead when leading scorer Osvaldo netted his 11th league goal of the season, slotting a low shot in off the post.

Espanyol enjoyed their advantage for only six minutes though before Athletic drew level through Susaeta, who fired home direct from a free-kick after he had been brought down 20 yards out by Joan Verdu.

Espanyol felt they should have been awarded a penalty just before half-time when Alonso went down under a challenge from Iraizoz inside the area but the referee waved play on, much to the home side's fury.

Athletic sent on star striker Fernando Llorente at the break, with the Spain international having started the match on the bench, but it was Espanyol who continued to look more threatening and Iraizoz was again called into action to deny Jordi Amat and Osvaldo, the first a vital block at point-blank range.

Iraizoz was beaten for a second time with 13 minutes remaining though, and that goal would end up earning Espanyol the points.

Goalscorer Osvaldo turned provider with a drilled low cross from the right that the sliding Alonso slotted in from close range.