Athletic Bilbao 0 - Betis 0

Bilbao: Lafuente; Larrainzar, Lacruz, Carlos García, Larrazábal; Oscar Vales, Urrutia; Joseba Etxeberria (Alkiza 88'), Julen Guerrero (Ezquerro 76'), Javi González; Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Prats; Varela, Juanito, Rivas, Mingo; Cañas; Capi, Ito, César (Belenguer 90'), Gudjonsson (Merino 59'); Casas (Ikpeba 65'). 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Bilbao: No change / Betis: Juanito, Rivas, Mingo, Cañas, César, Gudjonsson for Belenguer, Filipescu, Luis Fernández, Joaquín, Denilson, Amato.

Goals: None.

The weekend's leaders Betis drew 0-0 away at Athletic Bilbao to hold on to second place. Missing Denilson, Tais and Filipescu on international duty, and with Joaquín going down with flu just before the game, Juande Ramos gave Icelandic international Gudjonsson his first game and brought on another new signing Ikpeba in the second half. Gudjonsson showed good form, going close with a free kick with the visitors' best chance in the first half. Bilbao proved once again impotent at home, and their best goal chance was a penalty appeal from Javi González which earned him a yellow card for diving.

It was a hard match, with crunching tackles from both sides, although referee Muñiz Fernández kept control throughout. Lacruz went close with a header and Urzaiz had a goal ruled out for a prior foul in the second half, but in the end points were shared to extend Betis's unbeaten run to five games. Athletic have yet to win at the San Mames stadium, and must be thankful that their away form is keeping them in the top half of the table.