Rayo Vallecano 4 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Rayo: Imanol Etxeberria; Corino, De Quintana (Ferrón 83'), Hernández, Alcázar; Pablo Sanz, Quevedo; Peragón, Vivar Dorado (Helder 67'), Michel; Bolic (Bolo 67'). 4-2-3-1.
Bilbao: Aranzubia; Murillo (Ezquerro 64'), Alkorta, Aitor Ocio, Del Horno (Javi González 53'); Carlos García, Urrutia, Alkiza (Julen Guerrero 74'); Tiko, Yeste; Urzaiz. 4-3-2-1.

Team changes: Rayo: Hernández for Mainz / Bilbao: Murillo, Aitor Ocio, Del Horno, Carlos García, Urrutia for Felipe, Oscar Vales, Larrazábal, Orbaiz, Ezquerro.

Goals:
1-0. 18. Peragón. From close up after De Quintana headed back free kick.
2-0. 52. Bolic. Header in front of goal after long cross in from Michel.
2-1. 58. Urrutia. Spectacular first time volley as ball cleared out of area
3-1. 63. Michel. Received short pass on left of area to beat keeper.
4-1. 79. Corino (penalty). Following foul on Peragón by Javi González.
4-2. 85. Ezquerro. Volleyed past keeper after Yeste lifted pass over defence.

Athletic Bilbao's presence in Europe seems less likely after they were beaten 4-2 by a Rayo Vallecano side who are well on the way to another season in the top flight. Jupp Heynckes' team have now gone six games without a win, and the manager made five changes in a vain attempt to find a winning combination. However they never looked like threatening Rayo, who took the lead in the first half through Peragón in a set piece move after De Quintana headed back a long free kick. Both keepers were called upon in a lively first half, but nobody got the ball in the net again until eight minutes into the second period, Michel charging down the left and pulling the bar over for Bolic to carry it in to the net with the upper part of his anatomy. Veteran midfielder Urrutia was making a rare start for the Basque side, and the captain put in a claim for a first team place with a spectacular first time volley after the ball was cleared out of the area. However five minutes later Michel restored the two goal cushion beating Aranzubia on a rapid counter-attack.

The game got temporarily out of hand when Pablo Sanz and Tiko clashed, and handbags flew on both sides as tempers frayed. Referee Fernández Marín took quick and drastic action though, sending off the two worst perpetrators Hernández and Urzaiz, and things settled down. Ten minutes from the end Rayo were awarded a penalty when Javi González caught Peragón with an outstretched foot, and Corino stepped up to make it four from the spot. The crowd started a Mexican wave, and carried on even when Ezquerro scored again for the visitors after a delightful chipped pass by Yeste. This was their night, and with 43 points they can more or less consider themselves out of danger. The only downside was a last minute injury to Michel, and tests later revealed he had snapped his Achilles tendon and will be out for around six months. Bilbao return home beaten, but with Alavés losing they are still only two points away from a place in Europe. They cannot afford to be generous to their struggling Basque neighbours Osasuna, who visit the San Mames stadium next week, and if they win that they can go to Tenerife with a chance of saving something this year. At least it is an improvement on recent campaigns.