Villarreal 3 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Villarreal: Viera; Javi Venta, Fuentes, Gonzalo, José Enrique; Tacchinardi, Josico (Somoza 68'); Cani, Guille Franco (Matias Fernández 75'), Pires (Arruabarrena 87'); Diego Forlán. 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Javi González, Ustaritz, Sarriegi, Casas (Tiko 73'); Javi Martínez (Urzaiz 59'), Murillo; Iraola, Etxeberría, Yeste; Aduríz (Llorente 75'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Josico for Marcos Senna / Athletic: Javi González, Casas for Expósito, Gabilondo.

Goals:
0-1. 21. Iraola. Turned ball past Viera from close up following Aduriz headed pass.
1-1. 36. Forlán (penalty). After Ustaritz brought down Pires inside the area.
2-1. 38. Forlán. Picked up pass from Cani and beat Aranzubia with low shot.
3-1. 51. Ustaritz (own goal). Headed long ball from Javi Venta over own keeper.

Villarreal moved up into the top six after coming back from a goal down to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1, a result which left the Basque side just a point above the drop zone. A large contingent of visiting fans saw their side take control early on, Viera having to save an Aduriz header before the striker headed a long ball across goal allowing Iraloa to give them the lead. But two goals in three minutes from Diego Forlán turned the scoreline around, the first a hotly disputed penalty after Ustaritz fouled Pires in the area, and the second an angled shot past Aranzubia after Cani put him through.

Six minutes after the restart the locals went two goals clear, the unfortunate Ustaritz heading over the top of his own keeper trying to clear Javi Venta's long ball. Mané's side tried to react, with Etxeberría, Llorente and Yeste all giving it their best shots. But they couldn't prevent Villarreal from clocking up their seventh straight win, and for the first time in their 109 years history they come in to their last game with a real chance of going down. A win at home to the already saved Levante will keep them up though, and San Mamés will be packed to bursting to cheer them on.