Sevilla 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Sevilla: Notario; Njegus, Oscar, Pablo Alfaro, David; Casquero, Francisco (Marcos Vales 46'); Gallardo, Víctor Salas (Antoñito 80'), Fredi (Reyes 46'); Moisés. 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Lafuente; César, Murillo, Lacruz, Larrazábal; Oscar Vales, Gurpegui; Arriaga (Tiko 74'), Julen Guerrero (Etxeberría 61'), Javi González (Yeste 61'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Sevilla: Víctor Salas for Reyes / Athletic: Oscar Vales for Ezquerro.

Goals:
1-0. 51. Reyes. Ran on to Marcos Vales pass and beat keeper from edge of area.
1-1. 80. Etxeberría. Turned square free kick by Tiko low past Notario.

Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao played out a 1-1 draw which at least served to give both teams a point. Joaquín Caparrós left his young star Reyes out of the starting line up as a punishment for statements made to the press, bringing back Víctor Salas in his place. However after a dull first half in which his team had almost all of the attacking play but could not find the finishing touch, the manager decided to bring him on together with Marcos Vales in a double substitution. It was a master stroke, and five minutes later Vales put Reyes through for him to charge on and fire a low shot into the net off the far post.

That finally woke Athletic up, and Heynckes brought on three substitutes who played most of the season last year but are just returning from injuries, Etxeberría, Yeste and Tiko. Urzaiz rattled the bar, and a few minutes later Marcos Vales blotted his copy book by getting himself sent off for a bad tackle. The Basques pushed forward even more, and eventually Etxeberría levelled the scores after a short free kick from Tiko. In the dying minutes Sevilla could have won it when Moisés blasted a good chance over the bar, but Bilbao held on to take their first point of the season.