Athletic Bilbao 3 - Las Palmas 1

Bilbao: Lafuente; Javi González (Larrainzar 75'), Lacruz, Aitor Ocio, Larrazábal; Orbaiz, Alkiza; Joseba Etxeberria, Tiko, Yeste (Carlos García 79'); Urzaiz (Ezquerro 86'). 4-2-3-1.
Las Palmas: Nacho González; Angel, Sarasúa, Alvaro, Paqui; Edu Alonso, Jayo, Josico (Samways 80'), Pablo Lago (Carmelo 56'); Orlando, Tevenet (Sequeiros 86'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Bilbao: Aitor Ocio, Larrazábal for Larrainzar, Del Horno / Las Palmas: Angel, Sarasúa, Pablo Lago for Schurrer, Carmelo, Jorge.

Goals:
1-0. 41. Yeste. Took return pass from Urzaiz and fired shot in off bar.
2-0. 55. Etxeberria. From close up after Urzaiz played across Tiko free kick.
2-1. 64. Nacho González (penalty). After Javi González pulled back Paqui.
3-1. 69. Tiko. Bent free kick over defensive wall into top corner of net.

Jupp Heynckes' young lions swallowed the canaries of Las Palmas whole in a match which they ran out easy winners. The stars of the match were the two Bilbao youngsters Yeste and Tiko, who got a goal apiece to upstage the seasoned internationals in their squad. Heynckes only made changes to his defence for this game, leaving the front four untouched after taking ten points from a possible twelve at home in the second half of the season. Things didn't start so well though for the hosts, with a Las Palmas side holding their own despite the absences of the injured Samways and the suspended Jorge. That was only though until Yeste took a return pass from Urzaiz four minutes before half time to blast a shot over keeper Nacho González into the net off the crossbar.

There was brief flurry of activity from the visitors after the break, with Orlando almost catching out Lafuente with a lifted shot, but soon afterwards Bilbao were two in front when Etxeberria finished off after Urzaiz touched on Tiko's corner. Las Palmas got one back from the penalty spot after Javi González brought down Paqui on the edge of the area, Nacho González converting the kick. The Argentine keeper has now scored four this season, and it is a sad reflection that he is the club's second top scorer. Their hopes of a point didn't last long though, Tiko getting his tenth goal of the season soon afterwards with a house special free kick which left the keeper stranded. The young midfielder came close to adding another when he shot just wide on a breakaway, and substitute Carlos García headed against the bar in the last attack of the match. Athletic move back into the top six, five points behind leaders Valencia, their best position for many years. Their opponents though have now gone eight games without a win and they drop into the bottom three, marginally below Real Sociedad and Mallorca on goal average.