Athletic Bilbao Thump Mallorca to Maintain Top-Four Chase in La Liga

Athletic Bilbao continued their push for a Champions League spot with a resounding 4-0 win against Mallorca on Friday. The Basque side sit fifth, just two points behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, who have a game in hand.

Defender Yuri Berchiche was the star of the show, scoring two goals in the first 16 minutes. His first was an unusual hooked effort, followed by a well-placed volley. Gorka Guruzeta and Iker Muniain added goals in the second half to seal the win.

“I’m happy for the goals, but even more for the win,” said Berchiche. “We need to keep winning points because our rivals are tough.”

A slight worry for manager Ernesto Valverde was injuries to brothers Inaki and Nico Williams. Nico left the field with a thigh issue, while Inaki followed later with an apparent ankle problem. Both are crucial for the upcoming Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

“We’ll have to wait and see about their injuries,” said Valverde. “Hopefully, Inaki’s is nothing serious.”

Despite the injury concerns, Athletic Bilbao can be proud of their dominant performance. They are playing well and will be aiming to capitalize on any stumbles from their rivals to secure a Champions League spot.