Athletic Bilbao 2 - Alavés 1

Bilbao: Lafuente; Felipe, Larrainzar, Oscar Vales, Larrazábal; Urrutia (Javi González 38'), Alkiza; Ezquerro (Carlos García 64'), Tiko, Yeste; Urzaiz (Joseba Etxeberria 80'). 4-2-3-1.
Alavés: Herrera; Geli, Karmona, Téllez (Iván Alonso 90'), Llorens; Astudillo, Pablo; Jordi Cruyff, Magno (Witschge 76'), Ibon Begoña (Vucko 46'); Rubén Navarro. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Bilbao: Larrainzar, Oscar Vales, Urrutia, Ezquerro for Lacruz, Carlos García, Orbaiz, Joseba Etxeberria / Alavés: Karmona for Coloccini.

Goals:
1-0. 17. Tiko. Picked ball up on edge of area and shot through keeper into net.
2-0. 24. Urzaiz. Headed down past Herrera from Ezquerro's cross.
2-1. 58. Magno. Header over keeper after Navarro shot came back off crossbar.

Athletic Bilbao finally recorded their first win of the season at home with a 2-1 victory over Basque rivals Alavés. Jupp Heynckes decided to leave Etxeberria on the bench, and with Julen Guerrero still injured, youngsters Tiko and Yeste led the lions offence. Alavés were missing the suspended Coloccini, and without his presence in defence the home side raced into a two goal lead, with Tiko beating Herrera with a strong shot after the keeper had saved his early effort. Urzaiz headed the second from Ezquerro's cross after Yeste had put him through, and only a good save by Herrera from Yeste's free kick kept out a possible third.

Heynckes lost Urrutia to injury before half time though, and with the squad short of defenders, Javi González came in at right back with Felipe switching to midfield. It was the usual hard fought match which saw four players sent off last season, and Felipe once again got his marching orders halfway through the second half for a second caution. Shortly afterwards Alavés pulled one back, Magno heading over the stranded Lafuente after Rubén Navarro's shot bounced back off the bar. Mané brought on more forwards, but Bilbao hung on for their first league victory in the San Mames stadium since the corresponding fixture last April, and the Vitoria based side have still to pick up a point there in nine visits.