Athletic Bilbao 3 - Numancia 1

Bilbao: Lafuente; Larrainzar, Oscar Vales, Lacruz, Lasa; Urrutia, Alkiza; Etxeberria, Julen Guerrero (Yeste 70'), Javi González (Tiko 70'); Urzaiz (Felipe 88'). 4-2-3-1.
Numancia: Alvaro Nuñez; Manel, Antía, Soria, Octavio; Iñaki (Rosu 80'), Nagore, Pacheta, Caco Morán (José Manuel 52'); Iván Pérez (Rubén Navarro 75'), Ojeda. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Bilbao: Lasa, Urrutia, Javi González for Del Horno, Felipe, Orbaiz / Numancia: Ojeda for Rubén Navarro.

Goals:
1-0. 39. Etxeberria. Drove low into corner of net after Urzaiz shot blocked.
2-0. 48. Javi González. First time volley near post after cross from Etxeberria.
2-1. 60. José Manuel. Shot from 25 yards out after short free kick.
3-1. 78. Urzaiz. Headed past Nuñez after cross from Tiko on right wing.

Bilbao took advantage of slip ups by their nearest rivals to move up three places in the table and stake their claim for one of the UEFA spots this season. The Basque club are another of those teams with two faces, playing well and winning at home but failing to consolidate when away from the San Mames stadium. Txetxu Rojo kept faith with his usual line up, bringing in the more attacking Javi González and giving Lasa a rare start at left back in place of the injured Larrazábal. Numancia's manager Mariano García Remón only made one change to his side, bringing back Ojeda for his first start in six weeks after falling out with his manager over a fine given to him for turning up late for training.

Bilbao got the ball in the net early on through Etxeberria, but referee Mejuto González correctly ruled it offside. Further attacks followed from the home side but they were unable to finish off, and Numancia gradually got in to the match, with Iván Pérez putting an effort just wide. The crowd started to get impatient, but Etxeberria finally put them out of their misery beating Nuñez with a low shot after the ball had been bouncing around in the Numancia penalty area for some time. A spectacular goal from Javi González early in the second half appeared to have given Bilbao a comfortable lead, but slack marking from a free kick allowed José Manuel to pick his spot a few minutes later.

Numancia went close to equalising, with an Ojeda volley causing problems for Lafuente and another shot from Pacheta brushing the bar before Urzaiz headed a third near the end to the relief of the suffering supporters. The defeat drops Numancia deeper into trouble, and although Real Sociedad's defeat means they stay in seventeenth place, Racing and Osasuna move closer with victories. The three relegation spots now appear to be between these four teams, with Oviedo a possible outsider after four defeats in a row, and the small Soria based club will have their work cut out to remain in the top flight for next season. But then again that's what we said last year, and they are still here for now.