Deportivo La Coruna travelled to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday looking for the three points that would move them out of the bottom three in La Liga.
It was the home side that dominated the opening half and they were rewarded after 23 minutes when Oscar de Marcos converted from close range.
Deportivo were level after 52 minutes, however, when Abel Aguilar scored a header from inside the penalty area.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by minute live commentary below.
Afternoon all! Our first Spanish commentary of Sunday comes from the Basque area as Bilbao welcome Deportivo to San Mames. Both of these sides have struggled thus far, but each could be elevated with three points.
Deportivo have managed just one win from their last five games in all competitions. But Bilbao have fared slightly better with two victories. They away side have also won two of their last three in the league and there have been signs that better times are ahead.
Teams:
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; Iraola, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Ekiza; Susaeta, Iturraspe, Herrera; Llorente, Muniain, De Marcos
Deportivo: Lux; Ayoze, Aythami, Laure, Roderick; Valeron, Aguilar, Bergantinos; Riki, Gama, Pizzi
Deportivo's defence has been their undoing this season. They have not struggled to hit the back of the net, but teams have exploited their high line thus far. Bilbao have the pace to do just that which could point to a match full of goals.
Here we go then. Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Passionate home crowd? Check. Let's get this La Liga encounter underway.
Deportivo get us underway on this mild early evening in Spain. Can the home side continue their recent solid run or will Deportivo elevate themselves up the La Liga table?
Decent start from Bilbao with Ander Herrera and Susaeta enjoying early touches in midfield. Meanwhile, it appears that Bruno Gama will play an advanced midfield role for Deportivo this afternoon.
Half-chance for Deportivo as Valeron forces a free kick outside the penalty area, but his searching cross is headed clear by Aurtenetxe. Meanwhile, Iraola hits the deck for Bilbao under the challenge of Gama.
Deportivo are just enjoying a spell of possession at the moment with Alex Bergantinos and Aguilar exchanging passes in midfield. However, we are still waiting for the first real chance for either side.
First real attack from Bilbao as Muniain attacks down the right before firing a low cross towards Llorente, but Laure is on hand to clear the danger. It is interesting to see the Spanish striker being handed a start for the home side.
Another half-chance comes the way of the home side as De Marcos advances into the penalty area, but his shot is tame and collected by Lux. It is all one-way traffic at the moment after an encouraging start from Bilbao.
Back to Llorente for a moment. The Bilbao striker has refused to sign a new contract and wants to leave in January. He has not been played this season but starts this afternoon. That points to a goal in this match surely? Deportivo are really struggling to keep hold of possession at the moment.
Bilbao continue to turn the screw in the early stages as they force successive corners down the right. However, Deportivo are defending in numbers and this time Ayoze clears the danger. But it will come straight back at the away side.
The pressure remains on Deportivo as Susaeta has an effort blocked outside the penalty area. Meanwhile, we have seen relatively little from Pizzi and Riki in the opening 17 minutes of this match.
Ayoze picks up the first yellow card of the match for fouling Muniain in a wide area. The free kick brings the game's best chance as Llorente meets Herrera's cross, but his header is saved by Lux.
A rare attack from Deportivo threatens to bring the opening goal as Valeron advances into the Bilbao box, but Iraola is quickly across to clear the danger. Bilbao have certainly enjoyed the better of the opening 21 minutes of football.
Decent spell for Deportivo at the moment as they force a corner on the right, but Valeron's delivery is cleared by Ekiza. However, the away side remain deep inside the Bilbao half.
GOAL! Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Deportivo (De Marcos)
Bilbao take the lead as Oscar de Marcos finishes off a pulsating counter attack with a thumping effort into the back of the net.
Bilbao certainly had enjoyed the better of the opening stages and now have a goal to show for it. Unfortunately Deportivo were caught out in defence once more. It is so important that they just settle for the next five minutes or so.
Deportivo attempt to respond immediately as Valeron searches out the run of Riki, but his pass is just too long for the striker. Meanwhile, Herrera is on hand to prevent Pizzi from advancing into the Bilbao area.
The yellow cards are just starting to pile up for Deportivo as their frustration continues. They continue to give away free kicks outside their box and it could cost them.
However, Herrera's latest free kick is headed clear by Laure. You just get the feeling that Deportivo need to squeeze higher up the pitch in order to gain some territory in the final third.
Another half-chance comes the way of the home side as Iturraspe strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was always moving high of the post. Meanwhile, Deportivo continue to struggle to find their forwards.
Not a great deal happening in terms of chances in the past few minutes. However, Deportivo have just started to force the issue in advanced areas. But it has left them vulnerable to the Bilbao counter.
Bilbao come close to adding their second as Llorente advances into the Deportivo penalty box, but the Spanish striker is just crowded out at the vital moment. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is headed clear by Ayoze.
Deportivo simply cannot keep possession at the moment as Bilbao continue to pass and probe outside the box. Another half-chance comes the way of Llorente, but once more he drags his shot wide of the post.
Llorente remains the target man for Bilbao as Muniain and Susaeta attempt to feed off the big striker, but Deportivo's defence has improved as the half has progressed. Little over four minutes of the opening period remaining.
Tidy possession from the home side as we approach the interval. Meanwhile, Deportivo pair Pizzi and Riki continue to struggle for service. But the longer it remains 1-0 the more chance Depotivo have a nicking something.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute at the end of the half.
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Deportivo
So there we have it. A singular goal from De Marcos is enough to hand Bilbao a 1-0 lead over Deportivo at the interval. In truth it has been a match of relatively few chances.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Bilbao have shaded possession with 56%, while they have had eight shots to Deportivo's two. In terms of attacking intent, it has been extremely one-sided.
As it stands the result would elevate Bilbao into 13th spot in the table. Meanwhile, Deportivo would remain second from bottom with just 10 points to their name.
Just a reminder that we still have two matches from La Liga to bring you this evening. Atletico Madrid take on Sevilla and Levante host Barcelona. Be sure to remain with us for the evening's action.
Here we go then. Bilbao kick us off in the second period. Will it be business as usual for the home side or can Deportivo respond? They will have to improve on their first-half display if so.
Half-chance for the home side at the beginning of the second half as Herrera strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was always moving high of the target. Bilbao have begun the stronger once more.
It remains one-way traffic in this match as Herrera attempts to find the run of De Marcos in the box, but Laure comes across to clear the danger. Meanwhile, Deportivo continue to struggle to find their forward players.
GOAL! Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Deportivo (Aguilar)
Deportivo level entirely against the run of play as Aguilar meets a Valeron corner to head past Iraizoz from close range.
It was much better play from the away side in the build up to the goal as Riki hassled Iraola before winning a corner. Now it is up for Bilbao to respond in this second period.
Suddenly it's all Deportivo as Valeron picks up possession outside the box, but his effort was straight at Iraizoz. It is an old cliché but goals do change games. Just about 35 minutes of football remaining.
Bilbao advance immediately down the other end and Susaeta finds the head of Llorente, but his effort is just over the crossbar. Suddenly this match has burst into life with a period of end-to-end football.
Half-chance for Bilbao as Llorente again threatens in the air with a header, but Lux is on hand to collect the danger. You just get the feeling that the scoring is not over in this match.
Both sides continue to create openings as Roderick looks for the run of Pizzi, but the pass is just too long and Iraizoz restarts play for the home side. Both sides are exchanging spells of possession at the moment.
CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for the home side as Susaeta fires a low cross into the penalty area, but De Marcos just cannot make contact. All it needed was a touch. We remain level at 1-1.
The match has just become ever so scrappy in the past few moments with both sides picking up a host of yellow cards. Meanwhile, we are still waiting for the first change of the game.
Another counter attack brings Bilbao close to taking the lead as De Marcos finds Muniain out wide, but Laure comes across to make the challenge. It would not be a surprise if either of these two sides scored the next goal.
Bilbao continue to press as they launch a succession of high balls into the Deportivo penalty area, but the away side continue to defend well. Meanwhile, Llorente heads another effort high of the crossbar from close range.
First change of the matc for the home side as Ibai Gomez replaces Aurtenetxe. We have little under 20 minutes of football remaining at San Mames. It would be a fine point for Deportivo should they hang on.
Meanwhile, change for Deportivo as Valeron is replaced by Javier Camunas. The tempo had just slowed in the past few minutes with tiring legs. Hopefully the changes will spark some life into the match.
Not a great deal happening in terms of clear chances at the moment. Meanwhile, neither side are really controlling possession with each having their own stages with the ball.
Couple of half-chances for Bilbao as De Marcos strikes an effort from inside the box, but it is blocked. Meanwhile, Roderick beats Llorente to a header in the six-yard box.
CHANCE! Big opportunity for the home side as De Marcos pounces on a loose ball inside the box, but his effort is cleared. Meanwhile, the referee turns down a penalty appeal from the home side. It is all happening at the moment.
Another change for Deportivo as Roderick is replaced by Pablo Insua. Little under 10 minutes of football remaining and the score remains level. But Bilbao have had more of the possession in the past few moments.
Both sides continue to exchange periods of possession, but chances remain at a premium. Meanwhile, final change for the away side as Riki is replaced by Rodolfo Bodipo.
CHANCE! Two wonderful chances for the home side as pinball transpires inside the Deportivo box, but it hits the crossbar before a free kick is handed to the away side. Still the sides are level.
Bilbao continue to press as they force a series of corners, but Deportivo continue to defend with their lives as the danger is cleared once more. If there is to be a winner than it simply has to come soon.
Meanwhile, the fourth official has indicated that we will play an additional three minutes of added time.
Half-chance for Deportivo in the final minute as Bruno Gama whips a high cross into the penalty area, but Iraizoz is on hand to collect the danger. Little over one minute remaining.
Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Deportivo La Coruna
So there we have it. Both sides share the points in a 1-1 draw at San Mames. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to stay with us for action from Madrid.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
