Athletic Bilbao 1 - Espanyol 0

Athletic: Aranzubia; Lacruz, Karanka, Luis Prieto, Del Horno; Iraola (Jonan García 58'), Orbaiz, Tiko (Larrazábal 90'), Ezquerro (Bordas 77'); Etxeberría; Urzaiz. 4-4-1-1.
Espanyol: Toni; Torricelli, Lopo, Domoraud, Wome; Bastía, Héctor (Bobson 60'); Tayfun (David García 77'), Jordi Cruyff, Maxi (Corominas 70'); Raúl Molina. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Orbaiz, Urzaiz for Gurpegui, Jonan García / Espanyol: Toni, Wome, Bastía, Héctor for Lemmens, David García, Morales, Alex Fernández.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Iraola. Turned ball in on far post after Etxeberría crossed in from left.

Luis Fernández's return to Spanish football was not as successful as he had hoped as his new side Espanyol lost 1-0 against his old side Athletic Bilbao. The ex Paris Saint Germain boss had taken over during a turbulent week, with team coach Javier Clemente at first ratified in his post by the club president despite a fifth home defeat in a row, but then ousted after the other board members insisted on him going. Fernández was named the same day, but had little time to prepare and lined up with a side similar to the one put out by his predecessor, the only change not forced upon him by injury or suspension being in goal, where Toni returned in place of Lemmens.

As chance would have it, Fernández's first game in charge was at his old club, and he was greeted by appreciative fans who remembered the success he had whilst there. The Bilbao players came out wearing shirts with messages of support for Carlos Gurpegui and the head of medical services Sabino Padilla, the young midfielder starting a two year ban after testing positive for Nandrolone a year ago and the doctor also facing disciplinary measures as part of the process. Gurpegui's place in the line up was taken by Orbaiz, his first start since recovering from a long injury.

The game as such though didn't live up to it's billing, the heavy rain falling throughout the match making creative play difficult. The only goal came a quarter of an hour in to the game when Iraola got on the end of Etxeberría's cross (after good work by Ezquerro) to slide the ball into the net, his first goal for his club and a fitting celebration for his first ever call up to Spain's under 21 squad earlier in the week. After that though the only shot on target came from Ezquerro later in the first half, Toni dealing with it capably.

The rest of the match will be condemned to obscurity, although Espanyol did at least show signs that they are prepared to fight back. They still remain well clear at the bottom though, and the new boss has some work to do. Athletic meanwhile clock up their fifth home win in a row, something they haven't achieved since the 1997-98 season, when they qualified for the Champions' League. Their manager at the time? Luis Fernández of course. Espanyol can only dream that one day he might take them there as well.