Athletic Bilbao 2 - 1 Valencia: Aduriz double earns comeback win for Athletic Bilbao

Posted Monday, September 19, 2016 by PA

Aritz Aduriz scored twice as Athletic Bilbao hit back from behind to heap more woe on pointless Valencia at San Mames on Sunday.

The visitors had snatched a second-minute lead through Alvaro Medran but Aduriz struck twice before the break to consign his former club to their fourth consecutive La Liga loss.

The win eased the pressure on Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde, whose side have also made a poor start to the new campaign and lost 3-0 to Sassuolo in the Europa League in midweek.

It threatened to be another bad day for the hosts when Medran fired Valencia into a shock lead from close range after being put through by Nani amid woeful Bilbao defending with less than two minutes on the clock.

Medran had another good chance in a confident start by the visitors while Bilbao missed a fine opportunity after a quarter of an hour when Markkel Susaeta fired narrowly wide of target from a Raul Garcia cross.

Valencia had Brazilian keeper Diego Alves to thank for keeping their lead intact three minutes later when he got across well to stop an Inaki Williams effort from a narrow angle.

But Bilbao's confidence was growing and they drew level after 22 minutes when Aduriz beat Alves and headed home a Benat cross from close range.

Dani Parejo came close with a free-kick for Valencia but Bilbao held the upper hand, with Raul Garcia in particular posing problems in his forays towards goal.

Four minutes before half-time the home side's comeback was complete when Benat once again set up Aduriz to clip the ball over Alves and make it 2-1 at the interval.

They continued their momentum early in the second half and Raul Garcia saw a low effort well saved by Alves from Williams' headed pass.

Nani had a shot blocked then Rodrigo brought a rare save out of home keeper Kepa as the visitors became more urgent in their quest to get back into the match.

Garcia set Aduriz up for a hat-trick attempt in the 66th minute which he sliced just wide, then Garcia came close with two more attempts of his own as the home side pressed for a third.

Substitute Santi Mira lent some attacking threat for Valencia after replacing Rodrigo on 66 minutes and he saw a left-footed shot from just outside the box stray just wide 10 minutes from time.

Ultimately the hosts saw the game out with relative comfort to get their own campaign back on track while raising serious questions over Pako Ayesteran's side's prospects for the season.