Mallorca's comeback palls into insignificance however against Bilbao's. Trailing 3-1 to Málaga with a quarter of an hour to go, they bounced back to win the game 3-4. Luis Fernández caused consternation amongst Athletic fans (watch out, Javier Clemente is showing interest in his job) leaving out all three Spanish internationals, with Guerrero and Etxeberria on the bench, and Urzaiz watching the game from the stands. Fernández also left out Iñigo Larrainzar, disappointing the player who was looking forward to matching up against his brother Txomin, who was in the Málaga team. Alkiza made his reappearance after an injury. Peiro brought in Roteta, Ruano and Sandro for Rojas and Bravo, injured, and De los Santos, called up by Uruguay. Athletic still scored first, through Alkorta who met Javi González's cross on the far post in the 21st minute. Edgar equalised for Málaga six minutes later from Movilla's pass, and Catanha added two more in the second half, the first from the penalty spot after Ferreira had fouled Sandro, and the second after a long gallop downfield to meet Agostinho's long pass. However two goals from defender Lacruz levelled the score, the first a shot through a crowd of players which took a deflection and the second a scrambled goal in the six yard box, and substitute Joseba Etxeberria scored the winner from an impossibly tight angle three minutes in to injury time.

The other Basque team Real Sociedad also took part in a seven goal thriller, but they ended up on the losing side, beaten 2-5 by Racing de Santander. Nobody had given much credit to the fact that Racing's centre forward Salva was top scorer in the league as five of his six goals came from the penalty spot. However he made everyone sit up with four more in this match, all coming from normal play. Both teams changed their goalkeepers from the last match, Racing preferring veteran Ceballos to new signing Erwin Lemmens and Real being forced to include young keeper Iker Alvarez for his first league start in view of the one match suspension for Alberto. Iker was not to blame for the goals however, and it is to be hoped that he can put this result behind him for the future. Real scored first through Bonilla who met De Pedro's pass close to goal in the fifth minute, but Munitis equalised before half time with a clever lob. The second half belonged to Salva however, and his third goal in particular was a masterpiece, with first time touches from Billabona and Munitis before Salva turned the ball into the net. Ania pulled one back after Salva's third, but it was to no avail, and Salva walked off with the match ball as a momento. Racing move up to seventh, leaving Real struggling down near the bottom.