Athletic Bilbao have moved into the top four in La Liga after a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad this afternoon.
Markel Susaeta scored a goal in each half to give Marcelo Bielsa's men three points and consign Sociedad to their eighth away defeat of the season.
The home side sprung out of the traps and almost took the lead after a quarter of an hour when Iker Muniain threaded to Susaeta but the midfielder was thwarted by Claudio Bravo as he attempted to round the keeper.
Susaeta soon had his first goal, however, by turning home Andoni Iraola's low cross at the near post.
The Basque club continued to press and perhaps should have been further ahead at the break but Susaeta's free kick smashed the upright before Bravo denied Fernando Llorente, Muniain and Susaeta with a triple save.
In the second 45, Sociedad grew into the game and Bravo's opposite number Gorka Iraizoz performed similar heroics with a double save in the 76th minute.
Former Spain under-21 international Susaeta soon put the game to bed with his second by finding the top corner with a free kick from the edge of the area.
Sociedad remain 13th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone.
Pascal Lemesre
