Athletic Bilbao showed further signs of adapting to new coach Marcelo Bielsa’s philosophy by beating Osasuna 3-1 Monday after first-half goals from Iker Muniain, Igor Gabilondo and Javi Martinez.
Muniain opened the scoring in the 30th minute, Gabilondo added the second in the 38th and Martinez headed in the third at the back post in first-half stoppage time.
Roland Lamah was sent off for Osasuna in the 70th, but Javad Nekounam cut the deficit with a stoppage-time penalty.
The win moved Athletic to 11th place with eight points from six games and was Bielsa’s second straight victory after five games without a win at the start of the season. Osasuna has seven points in 15th.
Barcelona leads with 17, ahead of Levante on goal difference.