Bilbao Athletic rout Barbastro to kickstart season

Bilbao Athletic, the ‘B’ team of Athletic Club, thrashed Barbastro 4-0 at Lezama to pick up their first win of the season in Group II of the Segunda Federación, the fourth tier of the Spanish football pyramid.

A pair of first half strikes from Iker Varela, either side of a fine direct free-kick from Urko Izeta, saw Athletic three goals to the good at the interval. They breezed through the second half, adding a scrappy fourth through Mikel Jauregizar in the 77th minute as the rain poured down and the pitch rapidly became waterlogged.

The victory moves Carlos Gurpegui’s men up to fifth place in the league table, with four points from their three opening games, after a goalless draw at UD Logroñés on the opening day and a 1-0 defeat at home to Utebo the following weekend. Barbastro, from Aragon, are languishing down in 14th spot with only two points from their three games to date.