Athletic Bilbao 2 - Málaga 1

Athletic: Aranzubia; César (Jonan García 58'), Lacruz, Karanka, Del Horno; Iraola, Gurpegui, Tiko (Julen Guerrero 87'), Ezquerro (Orbaiz 80'); Etxeberría, Urzaiz. 4-4-2.
Málaga: Calatayud; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Litos, Valcarce; Gerardo (Insúa 78'), Miguel Angel; Edgar, Juan Rodríguez (Juanito 55'), Duda (Canabal 65'); Diego Alonso. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Ezquerro for Javi González / Málaga: Calatayud, Gerardo, Juan Rodríguez, Diego Alonso for Arnau, Romero, Manu, Salva.

Goals:
0-1. 03. Diego Alonso. Tap in on far post from Edgar's low cross.
1-1. 62. Urzaiz. Header close up on far post from Etxeberría's cross..
2-1. 72. Tiko. Low shot from edge of area through crowded goalmouth.

Athletic Bilbao put last weekend's defeat behind them, coming from behind to beat Málaga 2-1. The Basques found themselves behind in the third minute when Diego Alonso, replacing the injured Salva, got on the end of Edgar's long cross to beat Aranzubia. After that though it was all Athletic, with visiting keeper Calatayud making a promising debut with stops from Ezquerro, Del Horno and Etxeberría. Tiko volleyed just over the bar, and referee Teixeira Vitienes disallowed a goal by Ezquerro for a no-existent offside.

It was just a matter of time, and with just over an hour on the clock Urzaiz got the equaliser they were looking for when he got on the end of Etxeberría's high cross to head in on the far post. And ten minutes later Tiko put the locals ahead, latching on to a loose ball at the edge of the area to fire in a shot which bounced awkwardly past Calatayud. Canabal gave the home fans a scare at the end, but Aranzubia was up to the task and Athletic return to the UEFA spots thanks to their fourth home win in a row.