Good afternoon! Two sides that will be hoping to put some more distance between themselves and the bottom three go head-to-head in La Liga this afternoon as Athletic Bilbao host Rayo Vallecano. Let's start with a looks at the teams...

ATHLETIC BILBAO STARTING XI: Iraizoz, Laporte, Iraola, Etxeita, Balenziago, Jose, Susaeta, Rico, Muniain, Lopez, Aduriz

RAYO VALLECANO STARTING XI: Tono, Tito, Martinez, Amaya, Castro, Fatau, Kakuta, Jozabed, Lica, Baptistao, Bueno

ATHLETIC BILBAO SUBSTITUTES: Herrerin, De Marcos, Toquero, Benat, Gurpegui, Gomez, Williams

RAYO VALLECANO SUBSTITUTES: Alvarez, Moreno, Trashorras, Morcillo, Manucho, Quini, Pozuelo

The hosts are without Ander Iturraspe as the midfielder has a knee injury, but Xabier Etxeitia returns in defence after serving a one-match suspension last time out.

The visitors have left out Raul Baena, despite the midfielder being available against after suspension, as Rayo stick with the same starting lineup that earned them a 2-0 win over Villarreal last week.

Here's a look at some of the home players going through their warm-up a short time ago:

Calentamiento del Athletic #athlive pic.twitter.com/laI5g884Bo

— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) February 22, 2015

Just a place separates these two sides heading into this match as Vallecano sit 13th, one spot above Athletic. A win for the visitors this afternoon could lift them up to ninth, while Bilbao could jump up to 10th.

Here's a look at the visitors going through their final preparations for this match:

El @RVMOficial calienta en San Mamés pic.twitter.com/vQ9fqInwLX — Rayo Vallecano (@RVMOficial) February 22, 2015

PREDICTION! With kickoff just a few minutes away now, there's just time for a quick prediction. Neither side have been in great form recently, but Rayo should be boosted by last weekend's win, so I think they could just edge it this afternoon, so I'm going for a 1-0 away win.

The players are on the pitch ready for kickoff. It's not quite a full stadium for this clash, but it's a good sized crowd, and they're in fine voice as the players make their way out.

KICKOFF! The home side get the match underway!

No early chances to speak of from either sides, but Athletic are keeping the ball well at the back as they looks to dictate the early pace of the match.

CHANCE! Aritz Aduriz has his first shot of the day as Iker Muniain makes a brilliant run down the left before picking out the striker superbly with a perfectly placed cross, but Tono was ready for the striker's header, and he makes the save.

CHANCE! Aduriz quickly gets the ball back in the Rayo box, this time setting up a shot for Lopez with some swift footwork on the edge of the box, but the winger's finish is a fraction wide.

CHANCE! The first chance for the visitors falls to Gael Kakuta as he carves open a gap on the edge of the box before blasting the ball towards the Bilbao goal, but it just flashes past the right post. After a cagey opening couple of minutes, it looks like it could be a fairly open encounter.

The visitors are on the attack again, but this time Balenziaga is on hand to turn the cross behind, and Iraizoz easily deals with the resulting corner, punching the ball clear.

CHANCE! Rayo are enjoying a dangerous-looking spell around the Bilbao goal at the minute, and they get a free kick just outside the box. Kakuta lines it up, and manages to curl a powerful, left-footed effort around the ball, forcing Iraizoz to make a save.

Vallecano are continuing to see the majority of the possession at the minute, but Athletic have tightened up at the back to stop them peppering the home goal. Meanwhile, Aduriz tries to create something down the other end, but an accidental hand ball gives the ball back to the visitors.

After a rather quiet couple of minutes in the Rayo goal, Tono is called into actin against as Rico fires a high ball into the box, but there's no-one there to meet it, leaving the keeper to calmly claim it.

BOOKING! Mikel San Jose is the first player to go in the book as he trips Nacho Martinez 25 yards out, giving the visitors a free kick in a good position.

CHANCE! Alberto Bueno fires the resulting free kick towards goal, but his effort is a fraction high of the crossbar.

BOOKING! Just a few minutes after being fouled himself, Nacho Martinez becomes the second player to be shown the yellow card as he clatters into Etxeitia.

CHANCE! Tono has to make two saves to deny the hosts as Laporte gets himself free to try to head it in from the free kick, but the keeper tips it back into the penalty area with his fingertips, before cleanly taking Rico's rebound.

Athletic are on the charge again as Muniain battles hard to lose Tito before cutting inside to Lopez, but the midfielder's long ball forward is headed out for a throw in near the corner flag.

CHANCE! Tono has to be alert again as Aduriz times his run into the box superbly, leaving him with only the keeper and Tito for company, but the defender just gets his studs to it, before the keeper manages to gather.

CHANCE! It's almost a calamitous error down the other end as Iraizoz comes off his line to try to beat Lica to the ball, but the winger manages to keep the ball alive and get the cross in, before the Bilbao defenders make the clearance.

SUB! The home side are forced into an early change as Unai Lopez makes way for Oscar de Marcos. There didn't appear to be an injury to the departing winger, but he hasn't looked at his best.

Vallecano are pushing towards the Bilbao goal again as the look for the opening goal, but Tito is forced out , while Fatau gives away a free kick while battling with Aduriz for a high ball.

Laporte flicks a high delivery forward on towards Aduriz, but the striker is unable to control it, leaving Tito to boot it clear for the visitors. Both sides have had good spells throughout the first half, but neither have really taken control of the opening half of this clash.

Susaeta cuts inside to attempt a lob past Tono, but Ze Castro gets in the way to turn is behind. There a worrying site for the visitors though as the keeper appears to have pulled his groin. He's made some stunning saves already, it would be a blow if he had to go off.

The keeper already has tape and strapping on both of his legs, but the physio seems optimistic that he can continue until at least the break, covering Tono's thigh with a bandage. He's not moving all that well though.

Martinez and Nacho both race towards the Rayo goal, trying to get to a high ball from Rico first. It's the Rayo defender that wins, taking it away from the striker, before Muniain rifles the ball wide after winning it back for the hosts.

De Marcos attempts to catch the visitors out with a quick break, and while his ball is blocked, Susaeta manages to deliver it in, but three of the home side are offside.

The players make their way off following plenty of action but no goals in the first half at a wet San Mames this afternoon.

Let's take a look at some of the stats from the first half. Athletic had a fraction more of the ball with 52% possession. The hosts created a lot more chances, with nine shots to Rayo's three, while both sides had a third of their efforts on target. Fouls have been more of a problem for Bilbao though, as they've conceded nine, almost twice as many as the visitors.

It will be interesting to see whether Tono returns for thee second half. The Rayo keeper really seemed to be struggling with a groin injury, and Cristian Alvarez had started to warm up in the final minutes before the break. He's also stayed out at the break to make some practice saves, so a change could be imminent.

If the match ends in a draw, Rayo will jump up to 12th, while Athletic will stay 14th.

SUBS! The players come back out, and the fourth official confirms that Alvarez is replacing Tono, while Morcillo is also on.

RESTART! Rayo get the second half underway.

Tito slots the ball down the line to Ze Castro, and he's tripped, giving the visitors a promising free kick, but Fatau's powerful strike lacks direction, and ends up going well wide.

Cristian Alvarez has to make his first save since replacing Tono as the home side get a free kick of their own, and Susaeta's shot is accurate, but it's well saved by the replacement keeper.

Baptistao breaks from midfield, and has Bueno with him to try to put the hosts under some real pressure, but a poor pass goes trail to Iraola, who boots it behind for a corner.

Rico finds Susaeta on the edge of the box, but Tito is marking him closely, and forces him to put the ball behind for a goal kick. Muniain quickly wins it back though, and a sliding challenge from Amaya gives Bilbao the corner.

San Jose and Fatau come together while awaiting the corner, and Fatau is left clutching his head as it appears he was caught by a boot from the Bilbao man as he was trying to get back to his feet. Meanwhile, once action resumes Alvarez comes under pressure while taking too long to clear a through-ball, and he's forced to put it behind for a corner. He certainly hasn't looked as solid as Tono since coming on for the visitors.

CHANCE! A clearance from Amaya bounces back in off Ze Castro to leave De Marcos with a chance. Alvarez rushes off his line to punch the shots clear, while Rico's volley from the edge of the box is struck well, but it swerves just wide.

BOOKING! Rico and Fatau both go a loose ball, and the Atletic man gets to it first, and Fatau can't pull out of it in time, earning himself a yellow.

Susaeta has to work hard to stay on his feet as Tito forces his towards the corner flag, but he scrambles towards the goal, before his cross is cleared by Ze Castro. Bilbao have looked the more likely since the restart, but they haven't put the substitute keeper under too much pressure.

De Marcos released the ball out wide to Susaeta, but the midfielder is quickly crowded out by Vallecano, who have been defending superbly against a dominant spell for the hosts.

SUB! The home side make their second change, with Inaki Williams taking the place of Iker Muniain.

SUB! The visitors also make a change, and it's their last one, with Manucho replacing Leo Baptistao, who hasn't seen too many chances today.

Williams gets involved early on as he sprints towards the Rayo box to collect a high ball forward from San Jose, forcing Martinez to flick it behind for a corner. Laporte tries to get the shot away from the resulting set piece, but it was always going over.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Alberto Bueno thinks that he has given Rayo the lead against the run of play as he smashed the ball in on the volley, but he and Kakuta were both well offside as Lica launched the ball forward.

Athletic are still probing the Rayo box as they search for an opening goal, but Alvarez is starting to look a little more confident in goal, and he comes off his line to decisively claim Rico's cross in.

Williams picks the ball up in midfield and shows off his footwork with a brilliant run down the right before Manucho halts the move, turning the ball behind for a corner. Aduriz tries to not it in, but it's blocked.

BOOKING! Aritz Aduriz vents his frustration at the referee after being flagged offside, disputing the assistant's call and earning himself a yellow card.

CHANCE! De Marco and Williams link up on the edge of the area, with the latter going for goal as De Marcos squares is back in for him, but Alvazrez makes a diving stop to keep the sides level. Williams thumps the ad hoarding in frustration, knowing that was a good chance for the hosts.

SUB! Ibai Gomez comes on to add some fresh legs to the Athletic attack, replacing Susaeta, who has worked tirelessly in midfield.

CHANCE! Williams has certainly given Bilbao something extra since coming off the bench, but he just can't quite get the ball in. He rises high just a couple of yards out, but nods the ball just over from a San Jose delivery.

BOOKING! Mikel Rico is the latest player to go in the book, giving away a free kick when he brought down Fatau, but it looked like it was more for his reaction than the foul as he protests to the referee.

Finally the deadlock is broken as Balenziaga has a shot blocked by Alvarez, but Aritz Aduriz had been left unmarked, and was in the right place at the right time to rifle the rebound into the bottom corner.

Athletic want to put the win beyond doubt as De Marcos tries to find Williams, but the ball is too high, and the striker can't control it. Rico gets the ball back, but Aduriz drifts offside while seeking his seconds.

Rayo Vallecano have three minutes of stoppage time to try to salvage something from this match.

The visitors are desperately trying to set something up to get a late equaliser, but a rather hopeful ball forward from Kakuta is easily claimed by Iraizoz, who really hasn't had much to do in the second half.

So, Aritz Aduriz's late effort proves enough to give Athletic Bilbao a narrow win over Rayo Vallencano, ending a run of five home matches without a win.

The result lifts Athletic up to 12th in the La Liga table, while Vallecano sit 14th.

While that's all from this match, why not stick around for our live coverage from Villarreal's clash with Eibar, kicking off in just a few minutes. Thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.