Numancia 0 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Numancia: Nuñez; Manel, Muñiz, Gustavo, Octavio; Iñaki (José Manuel 85'), Marini, Nagore, Pacheta; Ojeda (Rosu 46'), Rubén Navarro (Chispa Delgado 60'). 4-4-2.
Bilbao: Lafuente; Lacruz, Alkorta, Oscar Vales, Larrazábal; Urrutia, Roberto Rios; Javi González (Ezquerro 75'), Julen Guerrero, Alkiza (Yeste 55'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Numancia: Octavio, Muñiz, Rubén Navarro for Jaume, David Pirri, Octavio / Bilbao: Lacruz, Alkorta, Larrazábal, Javi González, Alkiza for Larrainzar, Del Horno, Orbaiz, Yeste, Ezquerro.

Goals: None.

Txetxu Rojo took his place on the Bilbao manager's bench for the first time after serving out a four match suspension left over from last season, but his presence failed to inspire his side in a dull boring game in Soria. The match was a disappointment for the 9,700 capacity crowd, which included around 1,500 supporters from Bilbao, many of whom had taken advantage of Thursday's public holiday in Spain to spend a couple of days doing whatever people do when they spend a couple of days in Soria (not much, I imagine). Rojo made five changes to his side, including three of his back four, with Alkorta and Larrazábal back from injury and Lacruz returning from Sydney. Defender Roberto Rios came in to an unfamiliar role in midfield alongside Urrutia, with Javi González taking the injured Joseba Etxeberria's position on the right wing and Alkiza coming in on the left.

Numancia manager Paco Herrera brought back Muñiz in the middle of his defence in place of the suspended Jaume, and Rubén Navarro returned to partner Ojeda up front. The match was of special importance for their midfielder Nagore, playing against his old club who had forced him to leave during the summer. It was the man alongside him, Marini, who stood out in the first half, with a shot over the bar and a couple of genial passes which Rubén Navarro should have made more of. The lack of a play-maker in the Bilbao midfield meant that they were unable to create much danger, and they only had two real shots at goal in the match, a first half effort from Rios and another from Urzaiz, both of which Nuñez saved.

Referee Bueno Grimal had his work cut out to control the game, and he clocked up eight yellow cards, including five to Bilbao as they constantly broke up play with a series of fouls. He could also have awarded a couple of penalties, with Oskar Vales handling the ball in the area in the first half and Ojeda doing the same at the end of the match, but he turned down both appeals. Alkiza, just back from injury, was forced to leave the pitch early in the second half, Yeste taking his place, and Herrera replaced an off-form Rubén Navarro with Chispa Delgado shortly afterwards.

The draw leaves both sides smack bang in the middle of the table on seven points, although to be fair to Athletic they had already played Deportivo, Barcelona and Real Madrid in their first four games. This was their first point away from home, and with no games in Europe this season they should now move up the table. Although the better team on the night, Numancia are expected to migrate downwards, and will be happy just to stay in the first division for next season. Whatever happens, their fans will enjoy themselves.