Bilbao, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Athletic Bilbao strengthened its hold on fourth place on Saturday as the club recorded a 1-0 home win against Getafe through a first-half goal from Markel Susaeta.
The result moves Bilbao nine points clear of fifth-place Real Sociedad for the final Champions League place, while Getafe is still just one point above the relegation places.
Susaeta's goal arrived five minutes before halftime when he collected the ball 25 yards from goal and drove a shot into the lower right corner beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jordi Codina.
Codina continued to be the busier of the two goalkeepers as the match entered the second half, and even though Bilbao was unable to add to its lead, Gorka Iraizoz had little to do in the Bilbao net to keep a clean sheet.
Granada climbed seven points clear of the drop zone after securing a 1-0 win over Elche courtesy of Yacine Brahimi's 63rd-minute goal.
Espanyol and Levante played to a 0-0 draw in a battle of mid-table sides, while Rayo Vallecano and Valladolid finished 1-1 as Vallecano's Alberto Bueno scored in the 45th minute to cancel out Ze Castro's seventh-minute own goal.
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