Athletic Bilbao 2 - Valencia 2

Bilbao: Aranzubia; Larrainzar, Lacruz, Carlos García, Larrazábal; Oscar Vales (Alkiza 55'), Urrutia; Joseba Etxeberria (Ezquerro 80'), Julen Guerrero (Tiko 75'), Javi González; Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Albelda, De los Santos; Angulo (Rufete 59'), Aimar (Ilie 70'), Vicente; Alieu Carew (Juan Sánchez 84'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Bilbao: No change / Valencia: Alieu Carew for Salva Ballesta.

Goals:
0-1. 43. Ayala. Header into roof of net following corner from Aimar on left.
0-2. 46. Aimar. Placed shot past keeper after Carlos García missed long ball.
1-2. 63. Etxeberria. Headed across keeper after corner Javi González.
2-2. 91. Carlos García. Turned ball in from close range after Larrainzar centred.

Valencia uncharacteristically threw away a two goal lead and ended up sharing the points at Athletic Bilbao. Having rested some of his key players in the midweek UEFA cup tie in Russia, Rafa Benítez went back to his first choice side, although he surprised everyone by bringing in John Carew (now known as Alieu) for Salva. Bilbao came in to the game on form after their second away victory in a row at Deportivo, and Jupp Heynckes named an unchanged side. However the visitors took the lead with two goals a couple of minutes either side of half time, with Ayala heading the first from Aimar's corner and Aimar himself taking advantage of an error by Carlos García to get his first of the season.

The Argentinian could have added to their lead when he shot just wide early in the second half, but Bilbao finally got their act together, and a rare Etxeberria header reduce the gap. Cañizares was forced to make a spectacular save from Urzaiz a few minutes later, and Lacruz missed an easy chance almost on the goal line. Then in the last minute Carlos García made up for his mistake with the equaliser after Cañizares got a hand to keep out a free kick. Valencia miss out on a chance to share top spot with Celta, and drop to sixth place, a point ahead of their opponents who pick up their first point at home.