Athletic Bilbao 1 - Levante 0

Athletic: Armando; Iraola, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, Del Horno; David López (David Cuellar 66'), Javi Martínez, Orbaiz, Yeste (Garmendia 79'); Aitor Ramos (Aduríz 27'), Llorente. 4-4-2.
Levante: Kujovic; Descarga, Alvaro, José Serrano, David; Berson, Miguel Angel; Ettien (Riga 60'), Pedro León, Courtois; Iborra (Saúl 67'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Ustaritz, Del Horno, Orbaiz, Aitor Ramos, Llorente for Aitor Ocio, Koikili, Muñoz, Garmendia, Aduríz / Levante: Ettien, Pedro León for Juanma, Riga.

Goals:
1-0. 54. Llorente. Got on the end of Aduríz cross to head in on far post.

Athletic Bilbao beat bottom club Levante 1-0 to move clear of the drop zone, although it was not a convincing victory against a side which is in disarray, both from a sporting viewpoint and also financially.

The Basque side had the better of the first half, with Del Horno heading over the top a couple of times and Yeste and Llorente hitting the woodwork. Serrano was lucky to be let off when he handled inside the area, and Javi Martínez headed another chance over the bar soon after the restart.

Miguel Angel could have given the visitors the lead though when he headed against the post soon afterwards, but minutes later David López picked up a bad clearance from Kujovic and played the ball through for Aduríz for him to set up Llorente to head into the net.

Levante could have saved a point though as Alvaro headed wide from a corner and Iborra brought a good save out of Armando, who was making his first appearance in the San Mamés stadium after his recent signing. A nervous Joaquín Caparrós was booked for time wasting as he scuffled with Descarga as he tried to get the ball back out of the dug-out, and there were some nail-biting moments for the local fans before the referee blew the final whistle.