Deportivo La Coruna boosted their hopes of qualification for the Champions League with a win over Athletic Bilbao.

However, the Galicians' victory came at a price as in-demand full-back Filipe Luis fractured his ankle as he scored his side's first goal and the Brazilian is set for a long spell on the sidelines.

Filipe, courted by Barcelona in the summer but priced out of a move to the league champions by Deportivo president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro, gave the Galicians the lead in acrobatic style, but fell awkwardly and suffered a nasty twist to the ankle which left him in excruciating pain and will leave him sidelined for several months at least.

Another Brazilian, Juca, doubled Depor's lead 10 minutes later, and although Athletic were given hope by Diego Colotto's own-goal, Pablo Alvarez rounded off what was a deserved win for the home side with the third in the closing stages.

The win moves Depor into fourth place, where they sit provisionally a point clear of Mallorca, who travel to Espanyol tomorrow.

It had not been a good week for Miguel Angel Lotina's side, though.

Having lost 2-0 at Mallorca last weekend, they went down 3-0 at home to Sevilla in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.

With their cup exit all but certain following that result, Deportivo switched their attentions back onto the league and a mouth-watering clash with seventh-placed Athletic.

The Basques are no longer in the cup, but their league form has been promising of late and last weekend's 1-0 win at home to Real Madrid was a huge boost for Joaquin Caparros' men.

Athletic began the day just a point behind Deportivo, giving this clash added relevance in the race for European places next season.

The Basques, as they had done against Madrid last weekend, started with intensity and had Deportivo very much on the back foot for the opening quarter of an hour.

Fernando Llorente, who scored the winner last weekend, came close to scoring another goal this time around.

The Spain striker headed over after four minutes, saw a shot deflected just off target shortly after that and had a third effort saved by Deportivo keeper Daniel Aranzubia as well as Athletic set siege on the locals' goal.

Andoni Iraola also came close with a header, but Depor somehow survived and Athletic must have wondered exactly how they were not ahead as half-time approached.

Adrian Lopez missed Depor's first opportunity just before the interval, but the home side went ahead shortly after the break.

Filipe leapt brilliantly to divert Rodolfo Bodipo's header into the net after 49 minutes, but suffered a nasty twist to his ankle as he fell and looks set to miss the next few months at least, possibly the World Cup as well.

Depor's lead had come at a cost and their players were clearly affected by the sight of their team-mate in such obvious pain.

Surprisingly, though, that did not seem to have a negative impact on their football and Juca put the home side two ahead 10 minutes later.

The Brazilian latched onto Adrian's exquisite back-heel and clipped a deflected shot over the helpless Gorka Iraizoz to put Depor two up.

Colotto gave Athletic hope when he turned Iraola's cross into his own net with 11 minutes left, but Deportivo wrapped up a fine win at the death, when Pablo Alvarez swept home from close-range after
he was set up by Juan Carlos Valeron.

The win boosted Depor's hopes of Champions League football next season, although Filipe is unlikely to play any further part in that quest following his horrific injury.

While the Galicians climb provisionally to fourth, Athletic stay in seventh.