Levante 1 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Levante: Mora; Pinillos, Culebras, Jesule, Harte; Ettien (Juanma 87'), Rivera, Celestini (Camacho 74'), Nacho; Sergio García (Cuéllar 80'), Manchev. 4-4-2.
Athletic: Aranzubia; César, Murillo, Luis Prieto, Del Horno; Tiko, Orbaiz; Iraola (Arriaga 80'), Yeste (Urzaiz 69'), Etxeberría (Karanka 57'); Ezquerro. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Levante: No change / Athletic: César, Tiko for Gurpegui, Urzaiz.

Goals:
1-0. 68. Jesule. From close up after Manchev header blocked on line.

Levante are proving to be the revelation side this season, and they moved up into a surprise third spot after beating Athletic Bilbao 1-0. Bernd Schuster's side were unlucky to have two penalty appeals turned down early in the first half by referee González Vázquez, the first after Manchev was bundled over by César, and the second after Orbaiz clearly handled. Sergio García could have given them the lead had Aranzubia not got a fingertip to his shot to turn it away for a corner, but Mora was also in action at the other end, somehow bundling away a close range effort from Ezquerro.

Things swung in Levante's favour though when Luis Prieto was sent off for a second bookable offence just two minutes after the restart, leaving the Basques with ten men. A few minutes later Aranzubia made the save of the night as the locals piled on the pressure, turning Manchev's shot around the post. But he could do nothing from the ensuing corner when Manchev's header crashed against the post and Juanlu fired the rebound back into the net. It was enough to take Levante level with the likes of Real Madrid, and to send their opponents to the brink of the relegation zone.