Deportivo La Coruña 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Deportivo: Munúa; Manuel Pablo (Víctor 57'), Andrade, Coloccini, Romero; Sergio, Duscher (Munitis 80'); Scaloni, Valerón, Luque; Diego Tristán. 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Murillo, Gurpegui, Luis Prieto, Casas; Solabarrieta, Orbaiz; Etxeberría (Del Horno 87'), Tiko, Yeste; Llorente (Urzaiz 62'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Deportivo: Coloccini for Pablo Amo / Athletic: Murillo, Solabarrieta, Yeste, Llorente for Del Horno, Iraola, Javi González, Ezquerro.

Goals:
0-1. 51. Orbaiz. Left foot shot from outside of area which dipped under crossbar.
1-1. 86. Diego Tristán (penalty). After Víctor pulled down by Solabarrieta in area.

There was a carnival atmosphere at the Riazor stadium, where many fans turned up in fancy dress to watch Deportivo La Coruña play Athletic Bilbao. The two sides cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw though, both thereby losing ground in their push for a return to Europe. Depor's new signing Coloccini made his debut, and looked good in a first half in which both sides had their chances, Diego Tristán shooting just wide and Aranzubia tipping a dangerous Luque free kick over the bar at one end, and Etxeberría and Tiko both testing Munúa at the other.

The visitors went ahead though six minutes in to the second half, Orbaiz celebrating his international call up and also his birthday with a cracking left foot shot from some thirty yards out. Etxeberría thought he had scored a second but his strike was ruled out rather belatedly by referee Pino Zamorano for offside, and Andrade headed against the post a few minutes later as the home side went looking for the equaliser.

If Athletic thought the aforementioned offside was signalled a little late, it was nothing compared to what happened with five minutes left on the clock. Víctor appeared to have been pulled over by Solabarrieta in the area, but Pino let play go on, ignoring appeals from the Depor players. But almost two minutes later he realized that his linesman was still waving his flag, and after stopping the game and consulting with his colleague he pointed to the spot. Valverde and his players were livid, but the penalty went ahead and Tristán converted the kick for his side's eleventh draw of the season.