First Division - Day 1

Athletic Bilbao 1 - Espanyol 0

Athletic: Gorka Iraizoz; Iraola, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, Castillo; De Marcos (Susaeta 53'), Javi Martínez, Gurpegui, Muniain (Gabilondo 91'); Toquero (Yeste 89'), Llorente. 4-4-2.
Espanyol: Kameni; Pillud, Roncaglia, Nico Pareja, David García (Chica 61'); Moisés Hurtado, Verdú; Luis García, Iván Alonso (José Callejón 89'), Nakamura; Tamudo (Sahar 77'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 79. Toquero. Chested on long Javi pass and ran on to shoot past Kameni.

Yellow cards: Amorebieta 09', Roncaglia 32', David García 45', Verdú 65', Moisés 71', Susaeta 72', Luis García 86'.

Athletic Bilbao have been struggling in the pre-season competitions, but at least it helped them to be more prepared for the beginning of the league. The Basque side got off to winning start, beating Espanyol 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Toquero.

The first half ended scoreless, although Kameni had to be at his best to save at the feet of Javi Martínez and them tip a header from Toquero over the bar. The visitors' best efforts were a dangerous free kick from Nakamura which just went over the top, and a couple of efforts from Tamudo and Verdú.

After the break though the pace slowed, and the Catalans seemed to have saved a point before Toquero picked up Javi Martínez's long pass and ran on to score the winner. Llorente could have added a second a couple of minutes later when he burst through only to shoot wide, and Callejón gave the local fans a late scare with a long effort just over the bar, but that was the way it stayed.