MADRID, Spain -- Athletic Bilbao secured its return to the Champions League next season by winning 3-0 at Rayo Vallecano on Friday to lock up a fourth-place finish in the Spanish league. With Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona destined to take the top three spots, Bilbao fended off Sevillas late surge to seal its return to Europes top-tier competition for the first time since the 1998-99 season. The Basque side qualified for the playoff round to reach the group phase. "When I think back on how difficult this year has been, on how much we have won and lost, and to see this now, we have to enjoy it," Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose said while his teammates celebrated with a large group of their travelling fans. Bilbaos quest of reaching the Champions League was led by coach Ernesto Valverde, a former player who returned to coach the club a second time this summer after the exit of Marcelo Bielsa. Bilbao kept Rayos attack in check while taking advantage of a number of well-executed set pieces. After Mikel Rico and Aritz Aduriz both went close with shots resulting from corner kicks, San Jose acrobatically tapped in a ball from Markel Susaeta in the 20th minute to open the scoring. Forward Oscar de Marcos added a second goal 10 minutes later when he fired in a loose ball from a fourth corner kick, and Ander Herrera curled his free kick around the defensive wall and in off the post in the 74th to cap the win. The match in Madrid was twice delayed due to incidents involving both groups of supporters. The kickoff was 15 minutes late to let the Vallecas Stadium grounds crew clean up a large amount of paper bits Rayos home fans threw onto the pitch while festively celebrating before the game. The game was briefly stopped a second time after a barrier collapse in front of a section of Bilbao supporters following their teams second goal. TV images showed one man with what appeared to be a cut on his head. Another man needed to be carried off the pitch while he held his foot. Luis Gonzalez Astros Jersey .com)LeBron clearly likes his Italian sports cars, and thats ok with me, so up next up is the 458 Spider. Wade Miley Astros Jersey .com) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right elbow last week, the teams official site reported Wednesday. https://www.cheapastros.com/2213o-zack-g...sey-astros.html. Compared to what hes gone through in recent weeks, that seemed like a breeze. Speaking to The Associated Press on Friday at an NBA Cares event, Silver said hes thrilled that the leagues attention can be on the championship series between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs -- and not, as it was for so much of the post-season, on the off-the-court matters involving the banishment of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling and now the looming sale of that franchise. Mike Cuellar Jersey . Ben Street scored twice for the Heat (17-5-1), who won their fourth game in a row and 13th in their last 14 outings. Brett Bulmer scored the lone goal for the Wild (6-11-0), who dropped their sixth straight contest. Brad Peacock Jersey . - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season.The Winnipeg Jets play their first game in 2014 as they start a three-game road trip in Ottawa. This is the first of two games between these teams this season. The Senators play in Winnipeg on March 8. The Jets (19-18-5) are sixth in the Central Division with 43 points. They trail fifth-place Minnesota by two points. As for the playoff race, Phoenix currently holds the Central Division Wild Card with 49 points. Al Montoya (8-2-1, 1.85, .934) will start in goal. Jets Projected Lines: Ladd-Little-WheelerKane-Scheifele-FrolikThorburn-Jokinen-SetoguchiTangradi-Wright-Peluso Ellerby-ByfuglienEnstrom-TroubaStuart-Bogosian Andrew Ladd is on a five-game point streak (two goals and three assists). Jacob Trouba has three points (one goal and two assists) in his last three games. Blake Wheeler, who was named to the U.S. Olympic team yesterday, has scored eight goals and two assists in his last 10 games.dddddddddddd The Senators (17-18-7) are sixth in the Atlantic Division with 41 points. They trail fifth-place Detroit by five points and are five up on Florida. Craig Anderson (12-9-4, 3.17, .904) will start in goal. Senators Projected Lines: MacArthur-Turris-RyanMichalek-Zibanejad-ConacherGreening-Smith-CondraKassian-Pageau-Stone Cowen-KarlssonPhillips-CorvoMethot-Ceci Ottawa recalled Winnipeg native Mark Stone who will wear jersey #61. The Brandon Wheat Kings graduate played four NHL games last season. In 19 games with the AHLs Binghamton Senators this season, Stone has nine goals and nine assists. Cory Conacher has one goal and two assists in his last two games. Following tonights game, the Jets fly to Boston. The road trip continues against the Bruins Saturday afternoon at Noon ct (TSN 1290/TSN Jets). ' ' '