Athletic Bilbao 1 - Valencia 0

Athletic: Aranzubia; Expósito, Luis Prieto, Sarriegui, Casas (Garmendia 44'); Iraola, Ustaritz (Yeste 82'); Etxeberría (Murillo 56'), Javi Martínez, Gabilondo; Aduríz. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Butelle; Curro Torres (Miguel 72'), Raúl Albiol, Moretti, Del Horno; Marchena, Pallardó (David Villa 46'); Jorge López (Joaquín 56'), Hugo Viana, David Silva; Angulo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Sarriegui, Casas, Ustaritz, Aduríz for Amorebieta, Javi González, Murillo, Urzaiz / Valencia: Butelle, Pallardó, Jorge López, Hugo Viana, David Silva, for Cañizares, Ayala, Joaquín, Vicente, David Villa.

Goals:
1-0. 28. Gabilondo. Flicked Etxeberría cross past Butelle with his heel.

Valencia dropped out of the Champions League spots after losing 1-0 to struggling Athletic Bilbao. With one eye on Tuesday night's Champions League tie, Quique Flores put out a much weakened line up, and they paid the price when Gabilondo flicked Etxeberría's cross past Butelle on the half hour mark.

The visitor didn't have a chance throughout the first half though, and Flores brought on Villa at the break. The introduction of the striker livened things up, and he could have levelled the scores when he chipped a shot against the bar midway through the second half.

Joaquín joined the attack, and he set up Raúl Albiol for him to head wide, and then passed in for Angulo to put Aranzubia to the test later on. But Mané pulled his men back to defend, and they held on for an invaluable three points which takes them out of the relegation zone.