Athletic Bilbao 1 - Osasuna 1

Athletic: Aranzubia; Lacruz, Luis Prieto, Karanka, Del Horno; Gurpegui, Tiko (Jonan García 80'); Etxeberría, Ezquerro, Yeste; Urzaiz (Arriaga 67'). 4-2-3-1.
Osasuna: Sanzol; Izquierdo, Cuéllar, Josetxo, Antonio López; Valdo (Rivero 46'), Puñal, Pablo García, Muñoz; Webó, Aloisi (Palacios 91'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Athletic: Lacruz, Del Horno for César, Larrazábal / Osasuna: Cuéllar, Muñoz, Webó for Cruchaga, Moha, Bakayoko.

Goals:
0-1. 36. Izquierdo. Picked up Puñal's pass on right of area and hit low shot into net.
1-1. 45. Del Horno. Slid ball in on far post after Luis Prieto shot from outside area.

Osasuna held on to the fourth Champions' League spot even though they have not won in their last three games, their 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao being enough to keep them ahead of Atlético Madrid on goal difference. It was another typical Basque derby, hard fought on a heavy pitch which was at times unplayable, and neither side gave any quarter.

The Pamplona based side have not lost in the San Mamés stadium for ten years (true, some of that time they were in the second division), and once again they caught out their opponents when Puñal produced a classy run through the heart of the Bilbao defence and then laid the ball off for Izquierdo to score his first goal for his club.

Athletic equalised though on the stroke of half time after Sanzol turned Ezquerro's shot away for a corner, Yeste feeding Luis Prieto for him to fire in a wayward shot which Del Horno slid into the net from close to goal. It was a psychological goal, and Urziaz almost made it two in the second half when he brought another good save out of Sanzol following another corner.

The last opportunity of the match though fell to the visitors, Aloisi heading wide in the dying moments with the goal at his mercy. A fair result though, leaving both riding high and in contention for the European places, the locals ending the weekend in eighth place, just two points behind their opponents.