Valencia 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Baraja, Albelda; Rufete (Vicente 72'), Mista (Juan Sánchez 83'), Kily González; Salva (Aimar 60'). 4-2-3-1.
Bilbao: Lafuente; Felipe (Javi González 63'), Oscar Vales, Larrainzar, Del Horno; Urrutia (Tiko 46'), Orbaiz; Joseba Etxeberria, Julen Guerrero (Ezquerro 74'), Yeste; Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Pellegrino, Albelda, Rufete, Salva for Djukic, De los Santos, Angulo, Aimar / Bilbao: Oscar Vales, Urrutia, Yeste, Urzaiz for Aitor Ocio, Carlos Garcia, Cuéllar, Ezquerro.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Mista. Scrambled ball over line after Salva shot deflected onto post.
2-0. 65. Rufete. Shot low past Lafuente after Baraja pass over top of defence.
2-1. 73. Etxeberria. Ran on to Tiko pass to drive ball low past Cañizares.

Valencia moved up to third place, within a point of the leaders after a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. The visitors came directly to the East coast from Madrid, where their defeat in the semi-final of the cup at the hands of Real had left them disanimated. Jupp Heynckes therefore rested several of his key players, including Tiko and Javi González, bringing back club captain Julen Guerrero who had not even been a substitute in Thursday night's game. Lafuente returned in goal in place of youngster Aranzubia, who had been blamed for Madrid's first two goals. Rafa Benítez also made four changes to his line up, brining back Salva to play alongside the on-form Mista up front. The international striker was to make an important contribution in the first half, having an important hand in the first goal when his shot deflected off Oscar Vales on to the post, allowing Mista to run in and finish off almost on the goal line. Salva was unlucky not to win a penalty when brought down by Vales, but Bilbao came close to equalising just before half time from consecutive corners, with Cañizares tipping over a header from Urzaiz and Etxeberria shooting over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Heynckes brought on Tiko at the break and then introduced Javi González, and Benítez replaced Salva with Aimar. Soon afterwards Rufete extended Valencia's lead after Baraja lifted a pass over the defence, and Mista wasted a chance to take his side further in front when he allowed himself to be closed out. The Bilbao substitutes were starting to take effect though, and Etxeberria pulled a goal back to set up an exciting finish. The game picked up a pace, with Mista hitting the post with a shot from outside of the area, and at the other end Cañizares doing well to tip Tiko's shot over the bar. In the end though a second win in a row for the home side, taking them right back into the running for a Champions League place at least. The Lions return to Bilbao licking their wounds, their pride damaged after a bad week. Málaga could be in for a mauling next Wednesday.