Athletic Bilbao 1 - Real Sociedad 3

Bilbao: Aranzubia; Oscar Vales, Alkorta, Carlos García; Larrainzar, Orbaiz (Tiko 77'), Alkiza, Felipe (Ezquerro 46'); Joseba Etxeberria, Javi González; Urzaiz. 3-4-2-1.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; López Rekarte, Loren, Luiz Alberto, Aranzábal; Xavi Alonso, Idiakez; Khokhlov (Pikabea 91'), De Paula (Julio César 60'), De Pedro (Fuentes 70'); Jankauskas. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Bilbao: Aranzubia, Larrainzar, Carlos García, Felipe, Javi González for Lafuente, Lacruz, Larrazábal, Julen Guerrero, Ezquerro / Real: Jankauskas for Tayfun.

Goals:
0-1. 30. Jankauskas. Controlled ball before unleashing shot past keeper.
0-2. 40. De Pedro. Curled free kick over wall into top corner of net.
1-2. 72. Urzaiz. Controlled Alkorta free kick on chest before poking ball into net.
1-3. 85. Idiakez (penalty). After López Rekarte brought down by Oscar Vales.

John Toshack completed his objective of saving Real Sociedad from relegation as his side kept up their eight year unbeaten record in the San Mames stadium. A recent run of good results had taken the San Sebastian side up the table, but they still needed points in this game to be sure. Toshack has introduced a discipline and restored a sense of pride in his team, and they took control right from the start of this game. Within a few minutes Jankauskas, just back from a four match ban, got the ball in the net only for referee Bueno Grimal to rule it out for a non-existent offside, and Xavi Alonso brought a good save out of Spanish under 21 keeper Aranzubia, who was in the side for the first time to the detriment of Lafuente. The pressure eventually paid off and by half time Real were two up, with Jankauskas hitting a screamer from outside of the area past the young keeper, and De Pedro finding the top corner of the net with a well struck free kick.

Txetxu Rojo, in charge for the last time at home before Jupp Heynckes takes over, brought on Ezquerro for Felipe at half time. The attacking midfielder got involved right from the start, and after Urzaiz hit the post with a header, he put a shot just wide. Bueno Grimal gave Athletic a helping hand sending off Loren for a second bookable offence, and Toshack took off De Paula and then De Pedro to put on two defenders, Julio César and Fuentes. Urzaiz did get one back, holding off Julio César and then poking the ball past Alberto for his thirteenth of the season, but they could do no more, and Real went further ahead near the end when Oscar Vales brought down López Rekarte in the penalty area. The foul cost Oscar Vales a second yellow card, the defender thus becoming the first home team player Bueno had sent off in his career, but the visitors' Xavi Alonso joined him almost immediately when he also got a second booking for protesting too loudly in the incident. As the game came to an end the Bilbao fans booed off their players, thankful that a disappointing season was coming to an end having only seen one victory at home since February. The two teams are now level on 43 points, and with nothing else to play for, planning for next season has already begun. Both are hoping to do better next year.