Aritz Aduriz scored a hat-trick to lead Athletic Bilbao's 4-0 rout of 10-man Granada on Friday, as the Basque side strengthened their hold on Spain's last Champions League berth for next season.

Aduriz headed home Markel Susaeta's cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mamés Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the frame of the goal in the 18th and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The Bilbao defender Carlos Gurpegi capped the win in the 80th with a volley from outside the box. Granada did not muster a shot on goal and would have lost by a wider margin had it not been for the performance of Roberto Fernández in goal.

Bilbao's first victory in their last three home games left them fourth in La Liga, seven points ahead of Villarreal and Real Sociedad before they play their matches on Sunday.

Real Madrid lead the table by three points from Atlético Madrid and Barcelona, with Bilbao a further 10 points adrift.

"I'm happy the team won again," Aduriz said. "To stay at the top you have to keep winning week after week. There is a long way to go and it will be very tough, because there are some good teams in the fight but we will give it our all to stay in fourth place."

Granada's fifth consecutive defeat away from home leaves them perilously placed five points off the relegation zone.