Athletic Bilbao 4 - 0 Real Zaragoza

Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Real Zaragoza

Updated: April 17, 2004, 9:54 PM UK

BILBAO, April 17 (Primera Liga) - Athletic Bilbao boosted their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season with a comfortable victory over Real Zaragoza who finished the match with just nine men.

In a heated affair Zaragoza had Gabriel Milito and Maior de Aquino Alvaro dismissed as Bilbao put them to the sword.

Zaragoza actually started the brighter of the two sides with David Villa proving a constant threat.

With barely a minute on the clock Villa found himself with a clear shot in goal but his effort flew wide of the post.

The hosts regrouped and Bilbao striker Ismael Urzaiz was denied the game's opener by a goal-line clearance from the ever-present Villa.

Slowly but surely Bilbao began to take control of the match and Ruben Cani was presented with an excellent opportunity to break the deadlock.

A cross from the left by Savio was missed by the Zaragoza defence and landed at the feet of Cani, but his right-foot shot flew high and wide.

It seemed only a matter of time before Athletic found the back of the net and they eventually took the lead in the 33rd minute.

A long ball forward picked out Andoni Iraola and his cross picked out Joseba Etxeberria who finished with a spectacular over-head kick.

A goal behind the visitors looked to hit back immediately, and Villa should have done better than fire straight down the throat of goalkeeper Inaki Lafuente from close range five minutes into the second half.

Zaragoza's confidence was starting to grow but they were dealt a double blow in the space of a minute when Bilbao extended their lead and then Milito was sent off.

The goal was impressive as Iraola took a short corner to Francisco Yeste, and his cutback into the box was dummied by Etxeberria and rolled to Asier Del Horno for the simplest of finishes.

Zaragoza were then reduced to 10 men when Milito was shown a straight red for an alledged elbow to Roberto Tiko.

And just when they thought things couldn't get much worse they had another man sent from the field after Alvaro brought down Etxeberria with a cynical late challenge.

Athletic capitalised on their two-man advantage in the 77th minute when Yeste netted their third, after good work from Tiko, and they wrapped up the points a minute from time with a fourth.

Urzaiz beat the offside trap before laying the ball on to Yeste to slot home.