Athletic Bilbao 2 - Racing Santander 1

Athletic: Aranzubia; Luis Prieto, Lacruz, Karanka, Del Horno; Gurpegui (Aitor Ocio 92'), Alkiza; Etxeberría, Ezquerro (Arriaga 75'), Yeste (Tiko 93'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Racing: Lemmens; Coromina, Moratón (Arzeno 30'), Pablo Casar, Neru; Diego Mateo, Nafti; Munitis, Benayoun, Regueiro (Ismael 78'); Javi Guerrero (Bodipo 57'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Lacruz, Gurpegui for Javi González, Aitor Ocio / Racing: Coromina, Pablo Casar, Nafti, Munitis for Pineda, Juanma, Ismael, Bodipo.

Goals:
0-1. 47. Munitis. Shot past Aranzubia after clearance only reached Diego Mateo.
1-1. 56. Karanka. Volley on far post following left sided corner from Etxeberría.
2-1. 90. Urzaiz (penalty). After Ismael fouled Arriaga in penalty area.

Athletic Bilbao consolidated sixth spot with a 2-1 win over Racing Santander, their eighth game in a row without defeat. Local manager Jupp Heynckes could count on his young midfielder Gurpegui after his two year drug ban was put on hold, and he came in to midfield in a more attacking line up than the German manager has been using recently. Munitis returned for the visitors after a one match ban.

Racing still had an outside chance of reaching the UEFA spots at the beginning of this match, and the opening minutes were very physical as the two sides wrestled for control. The home side gradually got on top though, and Ezquerro was unlucky to see his low shot hit the post in Athletic's best chance before the break.

It was the Cantabrians who opened the scoring though only two minutes after the restart, Diego Mateo collecting a poor clearance from Aranzubia and setting up Munitis for him to turn the ball into the net. But Karanka made it all square ten minutes later, the ex Real Madrid defender getting his second in three weeks with a left foot shot following a corner.

Athletic pushed forward after that looking for a win, but they were nearly caught out when Alkiza had to clear an effort from Arzeno off the line with the keeper beaten. Heynckes turned to his under 21 international Arriaga though, and the youngster obliged in the last minute winning a penalty when Ismael brought him down. Urzaiz stepped up to score his 100th league goal of his career, taking his side four points clear of the chasing pack for that last European spot.