Athletic Bilbao 1 - Valladolid 1

Bilbao: Lafuente; Larrainzar, Lacruz, Carlos García, Larrazábal; Felipe, Alkiza; Ezquerro (Joseba Etxeberria 60'), Julen Guerrero (Javi González 60'), Yeste (Orbaiz 80'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez, García Calvo, Heinze, Marcos; Caminero, Turiel, Fernando, Chema (Ricchetti 82'); Ciric, Pachón (Alberto 92'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Bilbao: Alkiza, Julen Guerrero for Orbaiz, Oscar Vales / Valladolid: Turiel, Chema for Eusebio, Peña.

Goals:
1-0. 31. Felipe. Long shot through crowded goalmouth which beat keeper.
1-1. 45. Fernando. Ran on to through ball and shot low past keeper.

Valladolid picked up a valuable point in the San Mames stadium to keep their heads just above water in the fight to avoid relegation. The club has been sinking rapidly recently, having only picked up four points in the last nine games before this one, and in serious financial difficulties with players, staff and suppliers not having been paid in several weeks. Caretaker manager Pepe Moré was optimistic though, and with Jesús still suffering from a groin strain and Peña suspended, he opted for Turiel and Chema to complete midfield. Txetxu Rojo was under pressure to get a result after losing heavily at Oviedo the week before, and his medical room is finally emptying as key players such as Julen Guerrero, Joseba Exteberria and Alkorta return to the squad.

The crowd showed their displeasure right from the start, although Athletic did seem to be improving for a short while, with Yeste hitting the post from a free kick and then Felipe opening the scoring with a shot through a crowded penalty area which caught Bizzarri unsighted. But it was only a brief ray of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy day for the Basques, and Fernando levelled the scores just before half time when he picked up a ball which ran away from Pachón to push on into the area and place a shot low past Lafuente. The on-loan Real Madrid youngster almost scored again in the second half, Lafuente pushing his header away, and Caminero blasted the ball over the bar on the follow up with the goal at his mercy.

The game finished without further incident, and the Bilbao players, Guerrero included, left the field to boos and whistles from the fans. They are at least safe, in eleventh place with 43 points, but have nothing left to play for this season. Valladolid still have not won away and are now only two points above the drop zone. However they have at least stopped the rot of six away defeats in a row, and have to win against Racing next week in order to have a reasonable cushion of points before facing the feared Bermuda triangle in their last three games. If they are relegated it could even lead to their disappearance as a club as any possible new investor would not be interested if they are not in the top flight. The next month will be crucial.