Málaga 1 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Málaga: Contreras; Rojas (Edgar 73'), Litos, Fernando Sanz, Roteta; Gerardo, Romero (Miguel Angel 65'), Sandro (Duda 65'), Musampa; Canabal, Dely Valdés. 4-4-2.
Bilbao: Lafuente; Larrainzar, Lacruz, Carlos García, Larrazábal; Oscar Vales, Urrutia (Orbaiz 60'); Joseba Etxeberria, Julen Guerrero (Aitor Ocio 75'), Javi González (Alkiza 60'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Rojas, Canabal for Bravo, Zárate / Bilbao: Lafuente for Aranzubia.

Goals:
0-1. 13. Julen Guerrero. On rapid counterattack after receiving pass from Joseba.
0-2. 80. Etxeberria. Ran on to long ball out of defence to round keeper and score.
1-2. 90. Musampa (penalty). After player himself pushed down by Orbaiz.

Athletic Bilbao recorded their third away win in a row at Málaga to move up into the Champions League places pending Sunday's games. Málaga were unlucky to lose though in a match which they controlled throughout, and Bilbao made the most of their few chances, scoring both goals from quick incisive breakaways. Málaga knew their luck was out in the first minute when Dely Valdés saw his header rebound off the bar, and only two minutes later referee Daudén Ibáñez incorrectly disallowed a goal from the Panamanian striker for a non existent offside.

Soon afterwards though Julen Guerrero opened the scoring in Bilbao's first attack, the veteran captain combining with fellow Spanish international Etxeberria in a lightening quick breakaway. Málaga were missing defender Bravo, who was rushed off to hospital the day before after an injury in training, and Darío Silva, also injured, who was replaced in this match by Canabal, and the ex Real Madrid forward failed to capitalise on a couple of chances before half time.

The battling Athletic defence closed the door after the break, and with ten minutes to go Etxeberria added to Bilbao's lead on another counterattack immediately after Fernando Sanz had hit the bar at the other end. Once again the home side hit the bar through Dely, but at last their luck changed, Musampa pulling one back in the last minute from the penalty spot with a shot which was touched by Lafuente and then hit both posts before going in. But by then it was too late, and to add to Málaga's woes Roteta was shown a red card for a second caution in injury time.