Athletico Bilbao 1 - Villarreal 1

Bilbao: Lafuente; Lacruz, Roberto Rios, Oscar Vales, Del Horno (Tiko 57'); Felipe, Alkiza; Etxeberria, Julen Guerrero (Merino 70'), Javi González (Yeste 66'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Xavi Roca, Quique Alvarez, Berruet, Arruabarrena; Jorge López (Galván 90'), Amor, Javier Gracia, Cagna (Escoda 82'); Víctor, Palermo (Moisés 85'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Bilbao: Del Horno, Etxeberria, Julen Guerrero for Lasa, Urrutia, Yeste / Villarreal: Berruet, Javier Gracia for Unai, Schelotto.

Goals:
0-1. 18. Palermo. Headed down past keeper after cross from Jorge López.
1-1. 81. Urzaiz. Header over keeper from near post after corner by Tiko from left.

Athletic Bilbao missed out on one of their last opportunities to move closer to the European spots, and in the end were lucky to salvage a point against high flying Villarreal. Local fans were hoping for a good result after Bilbao's recent strong performances a the San Mames stadium, and Etxeberria and Julen Guerrero returned to the side, the former after a one match ban and the latter after being rested last week. Their opponents were however in need of points to maintain their push at the top, having lost ground on their immediate rivals following two defeats in a row. Víctor Muñoz was missing his new Spanish international Unai who was suspended, and with Schelotto not fully recovered from the knock he received last week, Berruet and Gracia came in to the starting line up.

López Vallejo kept out Etxeberria and Urzaiz early on, but play switched down to the other end and Palermo got on the end of a cross from the right to beat Lafuente for his second goal since joining in the winter. Bilbao surged forward, but they were unable to make much headway against a well ordered defence, and Villarreal almost scored from a breakaway by Jorge López just after half time. Julen Guerrero appeared to miss a sitter near to goal, his header going backwards, although cameras later showed that he had been pushed just as he was going in on Etxeberria's cross. Tzetxu Rojo's frustration was apparent, and he decided to bring on younger legs, with Tiko, Yeste and then Merino coming on, the latter for his first taste of Spanish football after picking up an injury shortly after joining the club from Nottingham Forest in the summer.

With the three on the park there was more urgency to Bilbao's game, and after everyone missed Merino's centre, Urzaiz finally levelled the scores, inevitably with his head following Tiko's corner. Merino shot just over the bar in the dying moments, but there was still time for Villarreal to give home fans a fright, Oscar Vales clearing off the line after Gracia's header got past an out of position Lafuente. Villarreal's point keeps them just ahead of Alavés in sixth place, although they need to start winning again if they are to hold off the challenge from other teams. Bilbao are three places below them, still with a chance of Europe next season but now a little further away from that goal.