Beñat's rocket nearly breaks the net!

41 minutes had passed in the first half of Athletic's meeting with Alavés when, following a foul given by referee Jesús Gil Manzano, Beñat Etxebarria stepped up to take a free-kick.

With the ball several metres away from the Alavés area, everyone expected Beñat to cross the ball. However, Athletic's experienced centre-midfielder had different ideas and tried his luck against goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco.

His unstoppable right-footed effort flew over the wall and nestled in the top left corner, bringing down the roof of San Mamés and putting Athletic ahead.

Some have sinced criticised Pacheco's positioning, suggesting he started too far to the the left, but there is little doubt that the speed of Beñat's strike made it nearly impossible for the goalkeeper to stop. The match went on to finish 1-1.