Ernesto Valverde’s spectacular Athletic Bilbao beat Sevilla 2-0 on Thursday to maneuver provisionally third in La Liga, forward of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Spanish champions Barca face Las Palmas later trying to take third place and lower the hole on leaders Actual Madrid and Girona, who each received on Wednesday. Athletic, with out talisman striker Inaki Williams — heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana — secured a stable away win by targets from Mikel Vesga and Aitor Paredes.

Vesga broke the impasse within the thirtieth minute with a header and Paredes rolled residence the second within the remaining levels to assist Los Leones clinch their sixth win from their final eight La Liga video games.

Athletic rise to 38 factors, 10 behind Actual Madrid and Girona, degree with Atletico and Barca earlier than their match at Las Palmas.

Sevilla, who appointed new coach Quique Sanchez Flores in December, languish in sixteenth, only one level above the relegation zone.

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