BARCELONA: Inaki Williams fired Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 home win over Las Palmas in La Liga on Wednesday to strengthen their chances of direct qualification for next season’s Champions League. The Basque side sit fourth with five games to go, eight points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal who suffered a 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo, also on Wednesday. Bilbao also have a Europa League semifinal against Manchester United to come, and should they win that they will play the final in their home stadium. Five La Liga sides qualify for the Champions League this season.