Fernando Llorente played a starring role as sixth-placed Athletic
Bilbao strengthened their bid for a European berth after seeing off
10-man Racing Santander in a thrilling 4-3 encounter at San Mames.
Llorente, who has slipped down the pecking order in the Spain
squad and may need a flying end to the season to have a chance of
making Vicente del Bosque's World Cup party, scored his side's
opener and then set up strike partner Gaizka Toquero to make it 2-0
after 17 minutes.
Racing pulled a goal back just before the break through
Mohamed Tchite but Llorente then won and scored a penalty 13
minutes from time to put Athletic 3-1 up.
The visitors hit back again with a brilliant overhead kick
from substitute Ivan Bolado, but they suffered a setback almost
immediately when defender Lozano Oriol picked up two yellow cards
in as many minutes to be sent for an early bath.
Athletic took advantage of their numerical superiority when
Markel Susaeta made it 4-2 in the 88th minute, and although Racing
pulled another goal back through Bolado deep into injury-time, it
was not enough to deny the hosts.
That triumph was Athletic's sixth win in their last seven
league games at San Mames - a run only broken by their 2-2 draw
with Getafe nine days ago - and helped the Basque further push
their European claims.
With the three teams immediately above them all losing this
weekend, Athletic are now level on 45 points with fifth-placed
Sevilla, two behind fourth-placed Real Mallorca and eight adrift of
Valencia in third.
Athletic came into the match having picked up just two points
from their previous three games, but they were unlucky to have lost
2-0 at Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
In that match Joaquin Caparros' side failed to make the most
of their early opportunities, but it was a different story tonight
as Athletic quickly raced into a 2-0 lead.
Llorente broke the deadlock in the 13th minute with a
trademark powerful header, thumping Igor Gabilondo's left-wing
corner into the roof of the net.
That showcased Llorente's aerial power, but five minutes
later he showed he is just as dangerous on the ground, skilfully
turning Henrique inside the area before setting up Toquero to slot
into an empty net.
Llorente almost made it 3-0 in the 23rd minute with a clever
back-heel, but it was 16th-placed Racing who netted next when
Tchite scored from close range in the 41st minute.
Boosted by that goal, Racing came close again four minutes
after the re-start through teenager Sergio Canales' fine free-kick,
but the Cantabrian side's hopes of getting something out of the
game suffered a major blow when Llorente put the hosts 3-1 up.
Christian was adjudged to have fouled Llorente as the pair
challenged for a high ball in the area, and from the resulting
spot-kick Llorente rolled home his 12th league goal of the season.
Racing refused to lie down, though, and they pulled another
goal back soon after with Bolado's spectacular effort.
However, Oriol picked up a yellow card as he tried to grab
the ball back following that goal, and he received his marching 60
seconds later fouling Llorente.
Athletic did not take long to extend their lead after that,
Susaeta sliding the ball past Coltorti after being put through, but
Racing gave the home side another late scare when Bolado fired into
the far corner.
That was too little too late to deny Athletic however, and
Racing remain six points above the drop zone.
