Last season's UEFA Cup finalists Werder Bremen swept aside Athletic Bilbao with a stunning first-half display to secure top spot in Europa League Group L.

Both Bremen and Athletic had already guaranteed their spots in Friday's draw prior to tonight's clash at San Mames, but there was still first place in the group up for grabs with the German outfit holding a three-point advantage over the Basque side prior to kick-off.

In the end it proved to be a non-contest, with Bremen, who saw their 23-game unbeaten streak come to an end with a 2-0 defeat to Schalke at the weekend, netting three times in the opening 36 minutes through Claudio Pizarro, Naldo and Markus Rosenberg to complete a comfortable win.

Bremen held all the aces going into the clash, as not only did they boast that three-point lead but they also won the first meeting between the two 3-1, meaning even a narrow defeat tonight might even have been enough to claim first place.

They were also facing an Athletic side plagued by illness and injury, with Spain internationals Fernando Llorente - the leading scorer in the group stages with six goals - and Andoni Iraola among those missing.

As such, Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros started with 16-year-old rising star Iker Muniain up front, 17-year-old Jon Aurtenetxe at left-back and another 16-year-old, Jonas Ramalho, on the bench.

Bremen needed just 13 minutes to stamp their authority on the game, with Pizarro heading home Rosenberg's pass to put the visitors in front and cancel out the away goal that Athletic scored in the first match.

Not that Llorente's injury-time strike at the Weserstadion in October would end up making much difference, with Bremen netting twice more before the break to end any hopes Athletic may have had of claiming top spot.

Naldo, who also scored in the first meeting, made it 2-0 in the 20th minute with another header, this time from Mesut Ozil's cross, and Rosenberg then got his name on the scoresheet with a left-footed drive following a pass from Pizarro.

That proved to be the end of the scoring as Bremen held onto their advantage without too many problems in the second half to finish six points clear of their hosts at the top of the group.

Teams

Athletic Bilbao Iraizoz, Etxeita, San Jose, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Susaeta, Javi Martinez, Yeste (Perez 70), Muniain, Toquero (David Lopez 55), Diaz de Cerio (Etxeberria 54).

Subs Not Used: Armando, Gabilondo, De Marcos, Ramalho.

Booked: Perez.

Werder Bremen Wiese, Prodl, Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen, Jensen, Borowski, Frings (Niemeyer 68), Ozil (Marin 75), Pizarro (Hugo Almeida 62), Rosenberg.

Subs Not Used: Mielitz, Hunt, Moreno.

Booked: Rosenberg, Jensen.

Goals: Pizarro 13, Naldo 20, Rosenberg 37.

Att: 38,000

Ref: Serge Gumienny (Belgium).