Valencia 1 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Valencia: Palop; Djukic, Pellegrino, Björklund; Angulo, Deschamps, Albelda, Fabio Aurelio; Vicente (Juan Sánchez 65'); Zahovic, Diego Alonso (Carew 70'). 3-4-1-2.
Bilbao: Lafuente; Lacruz, Alkorta, Carlos García, Larrazábal; Felipe, Alkiza, Orbaiz, Yeste (Julen Guerrero 87'); Ezquerro (David Cuéllar 80'), Urzaiz. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valencia: Palop, Djukic, Björklund, Angulo, Deschamps, Albelda, Fabio Aurelio, Vicente, Zahovic, Diego Alonso for Cañizares, Angloma, Ayala, Carboni, Mendieta, Baraja, Aimar, Kily González, Juan Sánchez, Carew / Bilbao: Alkorta, Orbaiz for Larrainzar, Julen Guerrero.

Goals:
1-0. 92. Zahovic (penalty). After Carlos García fouled Juan Sánchez in area.

An injury time penalty by Zahovic gave Valencia a deserved three points to take them provisionally to within two points of second placed Deportivo. The game had been brought forward to Friday night at Valencia's request to give them time to prepare for next Wednesday's Champions League final, but Héctor Cúper made a bit of a mockery of the decision by changing almost his entire team, with Pellegrino the only player in the starting line up who is likely to play on Wednesday night. Even keeper Cañizares was rested for the first time this season, with Palop finally getting a game, and Mendieta and Angloma joined the suspended Ayala, Baraja and Kily González watching the game from the stands. Alkorta returned to the Bilbao side after several weeks out through injury, but Txetxu Rojo decided to leave out Julen Guerrero after a poor performance last week against Valladolid.

The Valencia replacements started well, all playing at least for a chance to make an appearance in Wednesday's final, with Diego Alonso shooting just wide and then forcing a good save out of Lafuente. Bilbao played their usual game away from home, sitting back in defence and looking for the counterattack which never came, and Angulo and Fabio Aurelio caused havoc down the two wings. The goal never came though, and after Bilbao finally showed some signs of life after Ezquerro came close twice, Cúper decided he would have to risk Juan Sánchez and Carew if he was to win this match. Within minutes Carew had headed against the crossbar, and he repeated the act with five minutes to go to the end.

Then just as Bilbao were celebrating a possible point Sánchez fell to the ground after a tackle by Carlos García, and Mejuto González pointed to the penalty spot. The visitors protested, but the referee waved them away, and Zahovic drove the ball into the roof of the net. It was an important victory, and gives them a safety net in to next season's Champions League competition in case they don't win next Wednesday. They could even challenge for second place if Deportivo slip up on Sunday, but they won't be thinking about that for the next four days as they try to go one step further than last year. Bilbao return home dejected, their season to all intents and purposes over. With presidential elections coming up soon, they cannot start planning for next season until they know who will be in charge. On this performance it won't be Txetxu Rojo.