Athletic Bilbao 0 - Barcelona 2

Bilbao: Aranzubia; Murillo, Aitor Ocio (Carlos García 77'), Oscar Vales, Larrazábal; Felipe, Alkiza; Tiko, Gurpegui (Ezquerro 56'), Yeste (Karanka 80'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Bonano; Reiziger, Christanval, Abelardo, Coco; Luis Enrique (Motta 82'), Rochemback, Cocu; Rivaldo (Gabri 78'); Saviola, Overmars (Xavi 63'). 4-3-1-2.

Team changes: Bilbao: Aranzubia, Murillo, Aitor Ocio, Felipe, Tiko, Yeste for Lafuente, Javi González, Del Horno, Orbaiz, Carlos García, Ezquerro / Barcelona: Reiziger, Abelardo, Rochemback, Rivaldo for Puyol, Frank De Boer, Xavi, Kluivert.

Goals:
0-1. 16. Saviola. Header on far post after Cristanval nodded on Rivaldo corner.
0-2. 76. Saviola. Ran on to through ball by Xavi to shoot across Aranzubia.

Barcelona kept up their hopes of Champions League football next season with a 0-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Both goals were scored by Saviola, who was making a rare start away from home due to the one match ban on Kluivert. Puyol was injured, and Rexach went back to the four man defence after his ultra-defensive line up let him down mid-week against Panathinaikos, with Reiziger coming in at right back. Rivaldo also returned to the side after a brief appearance midweek, although he had obviously not fully recovered from his ankle injury and spent most of the match limping before being replaced ten minutes from the end. Bilbao's manager Jupp Heynckes made six changes after his side had let in eleven goals in the last two matches, with Spanish under-21 keeper Aranzubia taking over in goal from the unfortunate Lafuente, and five more home grown youngsters in the side including Gurpegui, who was making his home debut.

Aranzubia was put to work early on, punching a Rivaldo free kick over the bar. Soon afterwards Saviola put the visitors in front beating the keeper on the far post from Rivaldo's corner, but Bilbao came back quickly with a shot from Aitor Ocio which Bonano appeared to touch on to the crossbar. A few minutes later the Argentine keeper was forced to make a full stretch save from a Tiko free kick as Bilbao kept up the pressure looking for an equaliser. Soon after the break Gurpegui had to go off after injuring himself in a tackle with Luis Enrique, and Rivaldo went close after a long charge down the right side. Barcelona were always looking for the quick breakaway as Bilbao pushed up more and more, and second half substitute Xavi found eventually Saviola with a through ball which allowed him to beat the offside trap and run on to chip the ball past Aranzubia. Once again the Basques had no reply, and Gabri came close to making it three when he shot straight at Aranzubia when free in front of goal near the end. Barcelona rise up two places to fourth in the table, ahead of Celta after they lost to Barcelona's city neighbours Espanyol, and Bilbao drop out of the UEFA spots down to ninth, with Málaga and Alavés passing them on goal difference.