Athletic Bilbao 1 - Real Sociedad 0

Athletic: Aranzubia; Javi González (Murillo 46'), Luis Prieto, Karanka, Del Horno; Iraola (Yeste 46'), Gurpegui; Etxeberría, Tiko, Ezquerro (Arriaga 73'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Schürrer, Kvarme, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso (Aranburu 72'), Alkiza; Karpin, Nihat, De Pedro (Lee Chun Soo 82'); Kovacevic (De Paula 76'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: No change / Real: Kvarme, Alkiza, Karpin, De Pedro for Jauregi, Aranburu, Lee Chun Soo, Gabilondo.

Goals:
1-0. 80. Tiko. Ran on to Urzaiz pass to shoot past Westerveld.

A goal ten minutes from the end by Tiko was enough to give Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win over neighbours Real Sociedad. The match was brought forward to Saturday night to give the visitors time to prepare for their midweek Champions League game, and the atmosphere in a packed San Mamés stadium was electric, with both sets of fans mixing freely in a friendly atmosphere. With one eye on Wednesday's game, Denoueix once again made rotations, giving Alkiza a run out against his old side and bringing back De Pedro, who appears to have settled his differences with his manager.

The first half belonged to the visitors, and it was De Pedro who caused problems for the local defence with his runs down the left wing. There were no real chances though until seven minutes before the break, when Kovacevic got free but put his shot over the bar when he should have hit the target. Four minutes later Etxeberría went close at the other end, Westerveld injuring himself in the play but deciding to carry on.

Local manager Ernesto Valverde decided to change his right hand side at the break, bringing on Murillo to try and snuff out the threat from De Pedro and Yeste to strengthen midfield. Etxeberría tested Westerveld again, and the battle raged on, with the yellow card count rising as is usual in a Basque derby. But with ten minutes to go Urzaiz laid the ball back for Tiko to fire a shot into the back of the net. And even though Denoueix threw on reinforcements in the form of De Paula and Lee Chun Soo, Aranzubia stood his ground to give his side their third consecutive home victory against their rivals.