Athletic Bilbao vs Valladolid
Athletic Bilbao
Valladolid
vs
Sunday 7th March 2010
Venue: San Mames
Kick-off: 18:00
Score: 2 - 0
Toquero double sinks Valladolid
Gaizka Toquero struck both goals as Athletic Bilbao kept within striking distance of the European places with a 2-0 victory over struggling Real Valladolid.
Toquero netted twice in the space of 10 first-half minutes to help Athletic record their fifth successive league win at San Mames and ensure the Basque giants remain only a point behind sixth-placed Deportivo La Coruna in the standings.
For Valladolid, the situation is looking increasingly worrying as their miserable run of form continues.
They have won just once since October and in 10 matches in 2010 they have picked up only four points - all coming from draws.
That has left them in 18th place, four points behind 17th-placed Real Zaragoza at the start of the weekend, and with a home match against freescoring league leaders Real Madrid next week, things could get even worse for Onesimo Sanchez's side in the near future.
If the contrasting form of the two sides was not worrying enough for Valladolid prior to the encounter, they also had history against them.
In 39 league meetings between the two clubs at San Mames down the years, Valladolid had won just three and lost 27, and they rarely looked like improving on that after falling behind in the 26th minute.
Spain striker Fernando Llorente almost got his name on the scoresheet with a header that was brilliantly turned behind by Valladolid goalkeeper Justo Villar, but from the following corner the home side went ahead.
Igor Gabilondo's inswinging cross from the right was met by Toquero at the near post and his glancing header left Villar with no chance.
Athletic wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to double their lead in the 32nd minute with Markel Susaeta the guilty party.
Susaeta looked to have done the hard work as he picked up a ball forward and rounded Villar, but with the goal gaping he sliced his shot high and wide before falling to the ground with his head in hands.
Fortunately for Susaeta that miss did not prove costly as within four minutes Toquero made it 2-0.
Llorente's header on was superbly controlled on the run by Toquero and he produced a finish to match as well, toe-poking the ball into the bottom corner on the half-volley for his sixth league goal of the season.
That proved to be the end of the scoring, although Athletic could have added to their advantage both before half-time and in the second period.
Andoni Iraola opted to pass instead of shoot when presented with a good opportunity - his attempted ball inside being blocked for a corner - while Gabilondo brought a spectacular one-handed flying save out of Villar with a thunderous 30-yard free-kick after the break.
In the 68th minute Villar parried a shot from Mikel San Jose following a rapid Athletic counter-attack.
Valladolid were also trying hard to get back into the match, and substitute Medunjanin Haris brought an acrobatic save out of Gorka Iraizoz, who then spilled another effort by Alberto Bueno, although it was not to prove costly as Athletic held on for the win fairly comfortably.
