Bilbao Athletic slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat with a 2-1 loss away to Unionistas de Salamanca. A late header from Ferrer in the 71st minute sealed the result for the hosts in a Primera RFEF match where Athletic's reserve side missed a key penalty.

The home side took the lead just before half-time when Álvaro Gómez converted from the spot. Bilbao Athletic responded immediately after the break, with Lete finding an equaliser within a minute of the restart. The visitors then had a golden chance to take the lead themselves, but their penalty kick was saved by goalkeeper Álex Daza.

Ferrer's decisive header twenty minutes from time condemned Bittor Llopis's team to another loss. Unionistas manager Javi Medina pointed to late chances his team had to kill the game. "Los de Javi Medina la tuvieron en una doble ocasión en el descuento, con Álvaro y De Bustos, para hacer el segundo," he said.

Playoff hopes recede

The result leaves the reserve team with just one point from their last four matches, a run that has seen them fall out of contention for the promotion playoff places in Spain's third tier. This poor form stands in stark contrast to the first team's position in the top flight. The senior Athletic Club side currently sits 15th in La Liga with nine points from eight games, having recorded two wins, three draws and three losses so far. They have scored eight goals and conceded nine for a goal difference of minus one. Their most recent outing was a 3-1 defeat away to Levante on Wednesday 21 October, where Alex Berenguer scored a penalty for Athletic. Their form over the last five league matches reads one win, three draws and one defeat.

Attention now turns to a key home fixture this Sunday 25 October against Getafe, who are one place below them in 16th. The team finds itself eighteen points behind league leaders Barcelona. For Bilbao Athletic, the task is to find a way to stop the rot and revive their fading season ambitions. Their next match is at home to Real Sociedad B next weekend, a game that now represents a must-win to try and turn their form around.

The report in full is at Mundo Deportivo