Herrera the hero for Athletic
A goal from Ander Herrera saw Athletic Bilbao edge past Salzburg 1-0 and strengthen their grip at the top of Europa League Group F.
Herrera scored towards the end of the first half to move the Spanish club on to 10 points, six ahead of Salzburg, and within touching distance of a place in the last 32 with just two group games remaining.
Salzburg goalkeeper Eddie Gustafsson was put to the test after 13 minutes by a fierce drive from Fernando Llorente which was expertly tipped round the post.
It was then the turn of Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz to do some work, pushing a 25-yard strike from Franz Schiemer over the bar.
Schiemer caused further panic in the visiting defence after 19 minutes with a left-footed strike which also cleared the bar.
And Simon Cziommer's shot from the right side of the area had to be punched away by Iraizoz as Salzburg looked to get a stranglehold on the match.
Athletic had other ideas, though, and they took the lead eight minutes before the interval thanks to Herrera, who ran on to a ball from Iker Muniain before firing into the bottom right corner.
Salzburg looked for an equaliser before the break, but the nearest they came was a header from Stefan Maierhofer which was safely taken by Iraizoz.
And Iraizoz was called into action again early in the second half, getting his hands to a cross-shot from Ibrahim Sekagya.
Salzburg quickly followed that chance with another from Jakob Jantscher's free-kick, but Iraizoz was once more equal to the challenge.
The Spaniards responded with a shot from Markel Susaeta, which the midfielder curled inches past the right post.
But Salzburg continued to edge things and Iraizoz required all of his skill to push away a 30-yard bullet from Martin Hinteregger which was heading for the bottom left corner.
Further strikes from Roman Wallner and Franz Schiemer failed to trouble the Bilbao goalkeeper as the home side upped their search for an equaliser.
And it was Bilbao who almost snatched a second goal at the death, with Oscar De Marcos' strike from the edge of the area heading narrowly past the right post.