Bilbao frustrated at Espanyol after match stopped by racist chants

Published 4 weeks ago• 1 minute read

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Sancet netted the equaliser for Bilbao. AFP

Athletic Bilbao missed out on the chance to close the gap on the top two in La Liga as they were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Espanyol on Sunday in a match in Cornella that was temporarily stopped because of racist chanting.

In the 16th minute, referee Cuadra Fernandez was for insults to Bilbao winger Inaki Williams.

The match was interrupted for three minutes and a message was communicated over the public address system for . The referee warned that the next time the match would be stopped.

When the game restarted, Roberto Fernandez put Espanyol ahead in the 62nd minute but Oihan Sancet, who last weekend, levelled 15 minutes later. It was hardly a satisfying result for either side.

Bilbao had watched on on Saturday as leaders . Their own draw means they remain fourth, three points behind Barcelona, who host Rayo Vallecano on Monday and six behind Real.

Espanyol will rue the two dropped points but . They are now 15th on 24 points, just one point ahead of 18th-placed Valencia, the first team in the relegation places.