Villarreal 0 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Villarreal: Reina; Belletti, Coloccini, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; Josico, Battaglia; Víctor (Guayre 65'), Riquelme, Roger (José Marí 60'); Sonny Anderson. 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Javi González, Luis Prieto, Karanka, Del Horno; Iraola (Gurpegui 53'), Orbaiz, Jonan García (Laarazábal 71'), Tiko; Etxeberría (Lacruz 90'), Ezquerro. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Coloccini, Battaglia, Roger, Sonny Anderson for Quique Alvarez, Pedro Martí, Guayre, José Marí / Athletic: Iraola, Jonan García for Yeste, Urzaiz.

Goals:
0-1. 44. Jonan García. Hit shot on turn past keeper from Etxeberría's cross.

Athletic Bilbao held on to fifth spot after beating Villarreal 0-1 in the Madrigal stadium. The home side's caretaker manager Paquito was in charge for the first time in the league after Benito Floro's surprise resignation, and with a good result under their belts in their UEFA cup tie at Galatasaray midweek, his side started off well. Víctor was unable to beat a confident Aranzubia on two occasions in the first half though, and the visitors went in front on the stroke of half time against the run of play when Jonan García connected with Etxeberría's pass to beat Reina.

The goal was a blow for the locals, and for a while Athletic took control. But Paquito threw on José Marí and Guayre, and once again the flow switched to the other end. However José Marí, Sonny Anderson and Riquelme all failed to take their chances, and Villarreal found themselves down in ninth place at the end of the day, now five points adrift of their opponents in the fight for next season's UEFA cup spots.