Verona’s unlikely La Liga title bid suffered another blow in a 3-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Monday, with Alex Berenguer scoring twice for the Basque side. After leaders Real Madrid were held to a draw by Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, the second-placed Catalan minnows hoped to reduce the gap to six points but lost in a thrilling encounter at San Mamés. Michel Sanchez’s side are now just two points ahead of champions Barcelona and seven in front of fifth-placed Athletic, who are in danger of breaking into the top four.

Verona has failed to win any of its last three league matches.

After Berenguer had sent Athletic ahead, Victor Tsygankov gave Verona the equaliser.

However, Berenguer and Iñaki Williams scored in quick succession for the hosts and although Eric García scored a goal, Verona could not find an equaliser.

“We lacked a bit of determination in the final third… I think the second half was good,” said Verona coach Michel, who was watching from a box as he was banned from the touchline.

“We have to continue, we can’t ask the team to win all the time and we have to keep fighting to be there.”

Athletic took the lead within two minutes after Verona playmaker Alex Garcia played a dangerous ball in front of their area.

Berenguer intercepted the ball inside the near post and drilled Paulo Gazzaniga out.

Verona lacked its usual winning streak, yet recovered from a heavy 4-0 defeat by Real Madrid last weekend.

The Catalans equalized early in the second half when Tsygankov converted Ivan Martín’s cross into the net.

Verona did not equalize for long and Berenguer scored his second goal after another mistake by Verona.

Miguel Gutierrez pounced on the ball and was robbed by Gorka Grujeta, who finished past Berenguer.

Verona’s defense was in full danger as Iñaki Williams scored Athletic’s third goal.

Eric García gave Bayern a chance to salvage a point with a header from Alex García’s cross.

He almost fired deep into stoppage time, but Athletic defender Dani Vivian brilliantly cleared John Solis’s shot off the line to safety.

“The reality has always been that our aim was to reach the Champions League, we’re still there,” Eric Garcia told DAZN.

“We have to continue, we can’t fool ourselves – we’ve come from a difficult game.”

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