Athletic Bilbao moved into the Europa League positions in the Spanish league on Monday after beating Hercules 3-0 at home.
Defensive midfielder Javier Martinez extended his scoring run to three games by putting Bilbao in front with a header in the fifth minute.
Fernando Llorente doubled the lead with a header in the 59th and strike partner Iker Muniain capped the win five minutes later.
Photo: EPA
Bilbao’s eighth win in 11 games at San Mames lifted the team into sixth place for the first time since week one.
Promoted Hercules, which was limited to a pair of chances by Nelson Valdez, remained 12th, five points above the relegation zone.
Martinez rose above the defense to nod David Lopez’s corner into goal, giving the Basques control of the game from the start.
Llorente made it 2-0 with a header from Andoni Iraola’s cross for his 12th goal of the season, fourth best in the league, as Bilbao looked even more purposeful after halftime.
Bilbao’s continued pressure soon helped the team steal possession near the Hercules area. The 18-year-old Muniain didn’t waste the opportunity, instead coolly firing past the goalkeeper with his left foot.
Hercules showed their worst side with a very tame performance. The team is the only one to beat Barcelona in the league this season, but this is the fifth game Hercules has lost by the score of 3-0.
Hercules defender David Cortez should have received a second yellow card before the 20-minute mark after a hard tackle on Muniain, but the referee mistakenly booked Matias Fritzler for the foul.
Barcelona lead the standings with 55 points, four ahead of second-place Real Madrid. Villarreal is third on 42 points, Valencia fourth on 40 and Espanyol fifth on 37.
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