Published: Tuesday, 21 February, 2006, 09:09 AM Doha Time
Athletic Bilbao have won the Spanish title eight times but the focus of their attention this season has been on the other end of the table.
However, the Basques improved their chances of avoiding relegation with a 1-0 win at Racing Santander on Sunday.
Bilbao — who along with Barcelona and Real Madrid have been ever present in the Spanish first division since it started in 1928 — got three late points thanks to a left foot shot from Ismael Urzaiz five minutes from time.
Urzaiz’ effort from just inside the area levered Athletic out of the relegaion zone although there is little to choose between the bottom six teams.
Things went from bad to worse for Racing at the end of the game as they had defender Jose Moraton sent off in injury time.
Osasuna kept in contention for a Champions League spot and stay fourth with a useful
3-1 win at Cadiz.
Cadiz drew first blood when Lucas Lobos scored with a free kick after 14 minutes but Osasuna levelled from a Savo Milosevic header after 34 minutes and took the lead two minutes later when David Lopez scored from 20 metres out.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men when Alexander Medina was sent off 14 minutes from time and Raul Garcia wrapped up a successful night for Osasuna by getting the visitor’s third goal of the night two minutes from time.
Deportivo La Coruna lost ground on the places that will see them into Europe next season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Zaragoza.
Diego Milito got his 12th goal of the season when he opened the scoring for Zaragoza from close range after 13 minutes but Pedro Munitis salvaged a point for Deportivo with a wonderful inswinging shot nine minutes after the break.
The former Spanish international was out wide on the right, outside the box and only a few metres off the touchline but his left foot shot outfoxed the Zaragoza defence.
League leaders Barcelona bounced back after two successive defeats and inflicted a 5-1 thrashing upon struggling Real Betis on Saturday.
Barca’s goals were all orchestrated by Ronaldinho — and he got one of his own for his 13th of the campaign — as he returned from suspension although two were credited as own goals to the unfortunate Betis defender Melli Andreu.
Henrik Larsson and Lionel Messi got Barca’s first and last goals with Joaquin Sanchez getting a late consolation for Betis when they were already 4-0 down.
“We had the advantage of playing at home and made the most of every opportunity. But you have seen an entertaining game of football with both sides willing to attack,” commented Barca coach Frank Rijkaard.
Real Madrid celebtrated the return of club captain Raul Gonzalez, after three months on the sidelines with a knee injury, by notching up their sixth successive league victory with a comfortable 3-0 win over Alaves on Saturday.
The 29-times Spanish champions virtually killed the game as a contest when they scored twice in the opening 11 minutes. Stand-in captain Jose Mari ‘Guti’ Gutierrez rifled the ball home from outside the box in the sixth minute after Robinho had passed back to him and then the skipper turned provider five minutes later.
He delivered a delightful chip over the Alaves defence to find the muscular Julio Baptista who headed the ball up and then proceeded to connect with an overhead kick.
The ‘keeper was soundly beaten but the ball came back off the post only for it to fall to Robinho and the young Brazilian made no mistake.
Cicinho added Real’s third 12 minutes from time. (AFP)