Athletic Bilbao 2 - Alavés 0

Bilbao: Lafuente; Lacruz, Oscar Vales, Carlos García, Larrainzar; Felipe, Alkiza; Tiko (Orbaiz 46'), Ezquerro (Javi González 83'), Yeste (David Cuéllar 90'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Alavés: Herrera; Geli, Eggen, Téllez, Ibon Begoña; Desio (Azkoitia 80'), Pablo; Jordi Cruyff, Magno (Vucko 62'), Astudillo; Iván Alonso (Javi Moreno 62'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Bilbao: Larrainzar, Urzaiz for Roberto Rios, Larrazábal / Alavés: Astudillo, Magno for Contra, Azkoitia.

Goals:
1-0. 64. Ezquerro. At second attempt after taking pass from Urzaiz..
2-0. 70. Yeste. Quickly taken free kick which caught defence unprepared.

Alavés drop further down the league table after their second defeat in a row, losing to local rivals Athletic Bilbao. It was another typical Basque derby, with the atmosphere being heated up by the visiting players, and particularly Jordi Cruyff, with statements in the press during the week that Bilbao should recognise that the Vitoria based side were the superior side in the Basque country at the moment. Actually that is quite evident, but the sensitive and proud lions didn't like it being rammed down their throats, especially by a non Basque player. Added to the fact that Bilbao lost for the first time in their history to their rivals earlier in the season in a bad tempered match in which Bilbao ended with nine players on the pitch, the crowd were in no mood to take prisoners, with fans carrying banners saying "Aupa Liverpool, you'll never walk alone" (Alavés play the English club in the UEFA cup final on 16th May).

Txetxu Rojo was once again forced to put out a young team, with Guerrero and Etxeberria still injured, although Urzaiz returned from suspension to take up the centre forward position. Contra was suspended for the visitors, but there was no place in the starting line up yet for Urzaiz's Spanish international team mate Javi Moreno, with the on form Iván Alonso relegating him to the substitutes' bench. Alavés have lost all seven previous matches they have played in the San Mames stadium, but they looked as if they were going to change that, Jordi Cruyff ignoring the constant boos to head just wide early on. The Dutch international almost contributed to a first goal when Felipe hit his own crossbar trying to clear his cross, and Pablo hit the woodwork again a few minutes later with a centre come shot from wide out on the left wing.

But Bilbao finally woke up, and Yeste hit the bar at the other end with a well struck free kick on the half hour mark. Herrera pulled out two magnificent saves before the half time whistle from a spectacular Urzaiz volley and another Yeste free kick, but the home side were reduced to ten men in the 44th minute when Prados García sent off Alkiza with a direct red card for a two footed tackle on Iván Alonso. By coincidence Prados was also the referee when the sides met earlier in the season, and Alonso was involved then as well in the controversial sending off of Urrutia. There is no need to mention then the fans reaction as the teams left the field at half time.

Txetxu Rojo brought on Orbaiz for Tiko at the break, but the numerical disadvantage didn't seem to be a problem for Bilbao, as they continued their pressure on Herrera's goal. Mané changed his front two, bringing on Javi Moreno and Vucko, but almost immediately Bilbao took the lead, Ezquerro scoring at the second attempt after the keeper had blocked his first shot. Six minutes later Yeste made it two with a cleverly taken free kick as Alavés were still arguing about the placing of their defensive wall. The visitors protested that they were not ready, but Prados allowed the goal as he had already signalled for play to commence. Alavés threw everything forward, with Cruyff once again seeing a header cleared off the line, but when Alavés too were reduced to ten men when Téllez picked up a second yellow card, Bilbao were home and dry. They stay in a secure eleventh position, too far away from the UEFA spots to put in a real challenge but sure of first division football next year. Alavés are four points above them, still only two points away from Celta in sixth position, but having lost the plot a bit since qualifying for the UEFA cup final they may have to win that match to return to Europe next season.