First Division - Day 2

Athletic Bilbao 2 - Valencia 2

Athletic: Aranzubia; Javi González, Murillo, Luis Prieto (Tiko 79'), Del Horno; Orbaiz, Gurpegui; Iraola (Arriaga 86'), Etxeberría, Yeste; Urzaiz (Ezquerro 74'). 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, David Navarro, Marchena, Carboni; Albelda, De los Santos (Aimar 46'); Fiore, Di Vaio, Xisco (Vicente 64'); Corradi (Angulo 64'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Javi González, Murillo, Urzaiz for Tiko, Jonan García, Ezquerro / Valencia: De los Santos, Fiore, Xisco, Corradi for Baraja, Rufete, Mista, Vicente.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Urzaiz. First time volley past Cañizares from Etxeberría's cross.
2-0. 20. Iraola (penalty). After Yeste brought down by David Navarro in the area.
2-1. 65. Di Vaio. Controlled Angulo's long pass and fired shot into top of net.
2-2. 76. Angulo. Picked up headed pass from Aimar and ran on to beat Aranzubia.

Valencia came back from two goals down to salvage a point against Athletic Bilbao, spoiling the debut of newly elected president Fernando Lamikiz in the directors' box. With their opening Champions' League game coming up on Tuesday, Claudio Ranieri decided to rest several of his first choice players. However the move backfired, and their opponents were two up within twenty minutes, Urzaiz getting on the end of Etxeberría's cross to beat Cañizares and Iraola converting a penalty after Yeste was fouled by Navarro.

Ranieri resorted to three early substitutes after the break though, and almost immediately Angulo found Di Vaio with a long ball which the Italian striker appeared to control with his arm before shooting past Aranzubia. Referee Rodríguez Santiago waved away Bilbao's appeals though and allowed the strike to stand. Ten minutes later Angulo was there again to shoot under the keeper after Aimar headed a long ball into his path and Valencia had saved a point.