Alavés 0 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Alavés: Costanzo; Edu Alonso, Gaspar, Sarriegi, Ibon Begoña; De Lucas (Blago Georgiev 73'), Carpintero, Juanito, Nené (Jandro 85'); Bodipo, Aloisi. 4-4-2.
Athletic: Lafuente; Expósito, Ustariz, Luis Prieto (Dañobieta 61'), Casas; Iraola, Murillo, Gurpegui, Orbaiz; Etxeberría (Tiko 90'), Aduriz (Yeste 13'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Alavés: Costanzo, Ibon Begoña, Carpintero for Bonano, Coromina, Astudillo / Athletic: Casas, Gurpegui for Amorebieta, Yeste.

Goals: None.

Alavés and Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 in a gritty local derby which neither side could afford to lose. The visitors had taken 10 points from their last four games, and coach Javier Clemente set out his store right from the start with a line up containing eight defensive players and only Etxeberría and Aduriz in attack. And other than a couple of chances which De Lucas and Aloisi failed to capitalize on, the home side were limited to speculative high balls into the opposing penalty area which caused no problems for Lafuente and his defence.

Athletic started the better of the two sides after the break, with Etxeberría just unable to take advantage of a lack of decision between Costanzo and Edu Alonso, and Orbaiz and Gurpegui both failing to find the target. Bodipo replied for the locals with another effort wide of the mark near the end, but otherwise the two sides were happy to end the match with a point each which keeps them just above the drop zone.