Athletic Bilbao 2 - Villarreal 0

Athletic: Aranzubia; César, Lacruz, Karanka, Del Horno; Iraola (Javi González 63'), Gurpegui, Tiko, Ezquerro (Orbaiz 79'); Etxeberría (Jonan García 88'), Urzaiz. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Reina; Javi Venta (Xisco Nadal 71'), Coloccini, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; Pedro Martí, Josico (Belletti 54'); Guayre, Riquelme, Roger (Sonny Anderson 54'); José Marí. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Lacruz, Iraola for Luis Prieto, Yeste / Villarreal: Javi Venta, Josico, Guayre for Quique Alvarez, Belletti, Víctor.

Goals:
1-0. 50. Urzaiz. Header down into bottom corner of net from César cross.
2-0. 81. Etxeberría. Picked up lifted pass from Urzaiz and lobbed keeper.

Athletic Bilbao put their elimination from the Spanish cup behind them, ending Villarreal's 15 match undefeated record this season with a 2-0 victory. They had some problems early on though, and only a great performance by Aranzubia kept the scores level at the break. The ex under 21 international consolidated his position as Spain's third choice keeper with a string of first class saves, with Ballesteros, José Marí, Guayre and Martí all frustrated by him. His opposite number Reina also had his moments though, in particular saving from a Tiko free kick just before half time.

Five minutes in to the second half the Basques took the lead, Urzaiz rising above the defence to head César's cross down past Reina. Benito Floro decided to give a rest to some of his tired players, who had had a gruelling trip to play Trabzonspor midweek, but even the introduction of Sonny Anderson and Belletti could not change things. And a few minutes before the end, Bilbao scored a second goal when Urzaiz controlled César's pass and lifted the ball over to Etxeberría for him to lob Reina. It was third home win in a row for Valverde's team, and they move above their opponents into the UEFA cup spots.