Athletic Bilbao 1 - Málaga 1

Athletic: Lafuente; César, Murillo, Larrainzar, Lacruz, Larrazábal; Oscar Vales, Gurpegui, Yeste (Alkiza 68'); Etxeberría (Urzaiz 89'), Ezquerro (Tiko 91'). 5-3-2.
Málaga: Contreras; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Roteta, Valcarce (Iznata 77'); Gerardo, Romero (Manu 67'), Sandro, Musampa; Darío Silva (Miguel Angel 89'), Dely Valdés. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Athletic: Lacruz, Ezquerro for Tiko, Urzaiz / Málaga: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 06. Ezquerro. Diving header on near post from Yeste's free kick.
1-1. 85. Roteta. Got ahead of defence to head Gerardo free kick past Lafuente.

Málaga moved up to third place after a late goal by Roteta saved a point against a disappointing Athletic Bilbao. The draw maintains Málaga's fifteen match unbeaten record this season, and takes them to their highest ever position in the league table.

Peiró's squad were up against a Basque side who had not won at home in seven months, and Jupp Heynckes decided to ring the changes, leaving Urzaiz out of the team and lining up with a five man defence.

The move looked to have worked when Ezquerro headed them into the lead from Yeste's free kick in the sixth minute, and Bilbao over-ran their opponents in the first half hour. But fortune went against them when referee Rubinos Pérez turned down appeals for a penalty when Romero handled in the area, and the visitors gradually worked their way back into the match.

Bilbao decided to sit back after the break to defend their lead, and only Gurpegui seemed prepared to push forward. Inspired by the talented Sandro and the battling Darío Silva the visitors took control, and with five minutes go they finally found their way to goal, team captain Roteta getting on the end of Gerardo's long free kick to head past Lafuente.