[monks data]

La Liga

Feb 28, 2014 at 7.30pm UK

Athletic Bilbao
4-0
Granada

Aduriz (6', 18', 74' pen.), Gurpegi (81')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Mainz (74')

Match Report

Football

Aritz Aduriz hat-trick destroys Granada

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 28 February 2014

Aritz Aduriz scores a hat-trick as Athletic Bilbao open up a seven-point gap on their rivals for Champions League qualification with a 4-0 home victory over Granada.

Aritz Aduriz scored a hat-trick to fire Athletic Bilbao to a 4-0 win over Granada, which sees them move further clear of their rivals for fourth place in La Liga.

Athletic Bilbao's midfielder and captain Carlos Gurpegi celebrates with teammates his team's fourth goal during the Spanish league football match Athletic Club Bilbao vs Granada CF at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on February 28, 2014 © Getty Images

The 33-year-old striker netted twice in the opening 20 minutes and then put the game beyond the visitors with a third from the penalty spot after Diego Mainz had been sent off.

Carlos Gurpegi rounded off the scoring late on as Bilbao opened up a seven-point gap on those other sides chasing the final Champions League qualifying spot from Spain's top division.

Aduriz's first came after just six minutes as he directed an Andoni Iraola cross beyond Granada goalkeeper Roberto, who had no chance with the second, which came on 18 minutes.

Markel Susaeta's pass was collected by the Spaniard, who drilled a shot in off the post from 22 yards.

Granada did not collapse, though, and kept themselves in the game until the 74th minute, when Mainz was dismissed for dragging down Ander Herrera and denying him a goalscoring opportunity.

Aduriz stepped up to complete his treble, rolling the ball calmly into the centre of the goal from 12 yards, and Gurpegi increased Bilbao's winning margin by pouncing on a rebound with 10 minutes left.