Partizan: Zivko Zivkovic; Vulicevic, Ostojic, Fabrício, Lekovic; Andrija Zivkovic, Lukic, Nemanja Petrovic, Ninkovic (Trujic 84’), Stevanovic (Saponjic 79’); Bozhinov (Grbic 64’). 4-5-1.
Athletic: Herrerín; De Marcos, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga; San Jose, Beñat (Elustondo 90‘); Susaeta (Sabin Merino 55’), Raúl García, Williams (Bóveda 85’); Aduríz. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
0-1. 32. Raúl García. Got on the end of De Marcos cross to head down into net.
0-2. 85. Beñat. Curled long free kick over defensive wall inside the near post.
A good win for Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, the Basque side beating Partizan Belgrade 0-2 to displace the Serbians at the top of the table. After losing in Alkmaar, Valverde decided to put out a full strength line-up, and Susaeta and Etxeita both brought good saves out of Zivko Zivkovic before Raúl García headed a De Marcos cross down past the keeper and in off the far post. The local keeper had to be at his best to turn a shot from Aduríz around the post a few minutes later, and Williams just failed to find the target a couple of times either side of half time. Andrija Zivkovic and Fabricio did go close for the locals at the other end, but Zivko had to keep out a couple of long range efforts from Beñat, and with five minutes to go the Spanish international midfielder wrapped things up with a well struck free kick.