La Liga: Real Valladolid 2 Athletic Bilbao 2

A second-half goal from Markel Susaeta has earned Athletic Bilbao a 2-2 draw away to Real Valladolid in La Liga.

Having set up his team’s first goal, Susaeta tapped the ball home just five minutes after half-time to extend Bilbao’s unbeaten run to three games after the Basque club had gone two goals down in the opening 15 minutes at the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla in Valladolid.

The home team took the lead in the eighth minute when Javi Guerra did well to head Antonio Rukavina’s powerful right-wing cross into the far corner of the net.

Valladolid, who were chasing a third-straight win at home, continued their fine start to Friday’s match when Alberto Bueno doubled their lead in the 15th minute.

Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz stopped Bueno’s initial strike from the edge of the area but could do nothing as Valladolid’s Swedish winger Daniel Larsson returned the loose ball to his team-mate, who stabbed it home from close range.

Having started poorly, however, Bilbao fought back and Marcelo Bielsa’s team halved Valladolid’s lead in the 22nd minute thanks to Oscar de Marcos’ neat finish from Susaeta’s cross.

Susaeta received the ball on the right wing and after taking a touch, whipped in a cross to De Marcos, who did well to flick his volley across Valladolid goalkeeper Daniel Hernandez and in off the far post.

The visitors equalised in the 50th minute when a corner from the right struck Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz and the ball fell kindly for the unmarked Susaeta, who scored easily at the back post.

Bilbao had the better of the chances to win, finishing the match with 10 shots on target to Valladolid’s four, but with Susaeta shooting wide and Hernandez denying both Ander Herrera and Ibai Gomez, the game finished in a draw.

Valladolid remain three points ahead of Bilbao in La Liga’s standings in 10th position, while the Basques are 13th with 26 points, three clear of 14th-placed Real Zaragoza.