Athletic Bilbao 0 - Sevilla 1

Bilbao: Aranzubia; Felipe, Alkorta (David Karanka 85'), Oscar Vales, Larrazábal; Alkiza, Orbaiz (Carlos García 70'); Tiko, Ezquerro (Julen Guerrero 73'), Yeste; Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Notario; Njegus, Juanmi, Pablo Alfaro, David; Casquero, Francisco; Gallardo (Alfonso 87'), Víctor Salas (Juanmi 92'), Tomás; Toedtli. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Bilbao: Alkiza for Murillo / Sevilla: Francisco, Tomás, Víctor Salas for Torrado, Fredi, Reyes.

Goals:
0-1. 78. Gallardo. Shot under keeper after receiving pass from Víctor.

Another disappointing result for Athletic Bilbao means they drop out of the top seven, and Heynckes' side could miss out on Europe once again. They lost their third game in a row at their San Mames stadium, this time 0-1 to Sevilla, leaving their fans thoroughly disillusioned. Both teams came in to this game with poor recent records, and as the game progressed it became clear why that was. Neither keeper was particularly bothered for most of the first half, with the defences on top and the forwards limited to long shots which were no threat to anyone. Aranzubia saved comfortably early on from Víctor Salas, virtually the only shot from the visitors on target, and Notario was not even half tested by long efforts from Tiko, Urzaiz and Yeste. There was a half-hearted appeal from the Basques for a penalty when Ezquerro was held back by Njegus, and just before half time the defender saved the day with a spectacular overhead clearance after Larrazábal's effort from close up hit the bar and bounced towards the goal. The Bilbao defender should however have burried the ball earlier.

Let off the hook, the Andalucians punished their opponents late in the second half, Gallardo running on to a diagonal pass from Víctor Salas to steer a low shot wide of Aranzubia. Heynckes had just brought on Julen Gurrero for his first appearance in nine games after suffering a knee injury, and he gave added another forward Karanka in a desperate effort to salvage a point. But when Tiko's late free kick went wide again their challenge was finished, and having only picked up one point in their last five games it looks like being another barren season for the Lions. Caparrós was delighted with the result though, and Sevilla's first win in eight games takes them on to 44 points, considered by most commentators to be sufficient to ensure another season in the top flight.