Athletic Bilbao 1 : 1 Malaga - Bilbao held at home

Posted Sunday, May 15, 2011 by PA

Athletic Bilbao slipped to sixth in the Primera Division after a 1-1 draw against 10-man Malaga, but they have qualified for the Europa League.

Jose Recio fired the visitors into the lead at the end of the first half but David Lopez's penalty levelled matters after Malaga's Martin Demichelis had been sent off for a second bookable offence in conceding the spot-kick.

The result left Athletic level on points with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla after the penultimate round of games, but Espanyol's defeat to Real Zaragoza meant the triumvirate will fill the three Europa League spots.

The hosts made an assured start with Fernando Llorente lashing a shot wide of the right-hand post before Xabier Castillo saw his drive tipped round the post by Caballero Willy in the Malaga goal.

Yet it was Malaga who took the lead with just three minutes to go in the first half.

Midfielder Recio was picked out by Jimenez Juanmi's pass and he made no mistake as he coolly slotted home from the edge of the area.

The Basque side were level 10 minutes into the second half, though. Demichelis brought down Llorente in the box, with the Argentina international seeing red following his second bookable offence.

The home side pushed on as they sought a winner, with Willy getting down well to keep out a sharp shot from Llorente, before holding onto a fierce Javi Martinez strike.

Malaga struggled at times to get out of their own half, with their best second-half effort being an ambitious strike from distance from Julio Baptista.