Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Valencia: Los Che Edge Late Show At San Mames

Javi Martinez, Marchena, Athletic, Valencia (MARCA)

Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Valencia - Lineups/Stats

La Liga Table, Fixtures, Results

Athletic Bilbao's late penalty miss put paid to any hopes of a dramatic late draw against a spirited Valencia side who go third in La Liga.

Goals from David Villa and Jeremy Mathieu either side of an Iker Muniain strike saw a thrilling second half at San Mames, David Lopez smashing a last-gasp spot-kick off the woodwork.

The game took a while to get going as both sides tried to impose their own style on the game. Valencia probed with their swift counterattacking, passing game while the hosts tried to bulldoze their way to Cesar's goal.

A lively Pablo Hernandez produced some excellent close control at times and seemed to pop up all over the pitch and almost fashioned an opener after 18 minutes, beating three defenders down the right but Juan Mata couldn't direct his cross on target at the near post.

The hosts refused to let Los Che settle into their rhythm and Mata's effort was as good as it got in the first 45 for the visitors. Oscar De Marcos, on for the injured Fernando Llorente added an attacking flair to Los Leones efforts but his shot, from 25 yards sailed wide as the Basque outfit failed to trouble Cesar in the first half.

The second half began in similarly tentative style with neither side asserting dominance. Ten minutes in Villa had a glorious chance to put the visitors in front after a tremendous ball over the top from Carlos Marchena. El Guaje raced clear of Mikel San Jose but with just the Gorka Iraizoz to beat, he opted for an audacious lob and miscued, much to the relief of the San Mames faithful.

A minute later the simmering atmosphere exploded into life as Iker Muniain gave the hosts the lead, reacting quickest as Cesar spilled Javi Martinez's shot to fire Bilbao in front.

The stadium rocked for a matter of minutes though as Pablo Hernandez's clever byline run opened the Basque back line and his cross found Villa at the far post. This time the prolific striker made no mistake, volleying his effort into the turf and finding the far corner of the net to silence San Mames.

After the equaliser the game settled down briefly, until Koikili saw red for a second yellow after a foul on Juan Mata.

Los Che sniffed a sixth away victory which would send them third in the table and substitute Nikola Zigic caused havoc in the Bilbao defence, forcing Iraizoz off his line to punch clear on one occasion. The punch was a poor one and Mathieu smashed a volley home from 15 yards to give the visitors the lead.

Bilbao were then gifted an opportunity to equalise with just four minutes remaining but David Lopez hit the post from the spot after David Navarro had felled Javi Martinez in the box.

The hosts pressed for an equaliser and Iriazoz, up for a flurry of set pieces in stoppage time, almost grabbed it with a late, late header but it wasn't to be.

Los Che, just the second team to win at San Mames this season, jump above the other team to do so, Sevilla, into third place in the Primera Liga. They face Real Madrid next week, with a chance of going second.