Málaga 1 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Málaga: Arnau; Gerardo, Fernando Sanz, César Navas, Valcarce; Romero, Juanito; Juan Rodríguez, Miguel Angel (Edgar 88'), Duda (Iznata 59'); Fernando Baiano (Amoroso 59'). 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Iraola, Murillo, Lacruz, Casas; Gurpegui, Orbaiz; Etxeberría, Jonan García (Julen Guerrero 46'), Tiko (Javi González 36'); Llorente (Urzaiz 56'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: No change / Athletic: Lacruz, Casas, Jonan García, Llorente for Luis Prieto, Del Horno, Yeste, Ezquerro.

Goals:
1-0. 02. Rodríguez. Picked up Miguel Angel pass and rounded keeper to score.

Athletic Bilbao lost ground on the leaders after they were beaten 1-0 by Málaga, their second defeat in a row after they were knocked out of the UEFA cup at the weekend. The only goal of the match came in the second minute when Miguel Angel and Duda set up Juan Rodríguez for him to round Aranzubia and score his fourth goal in as many games. And the young forward could have increased the lead a few minutes later when Baiano set him up, but Aranzubia kept out his shot.

Athletic were having problems getting past a well ordered defence, and only a header from Etxeberría just wide of the bar caused any trouble for Arnau. And Miguel Angel felt hard done by when he was brought down inside the area shortly before the interval only for referee Teixeira Vitienes to wave play on.

The best chance in the second half fell to Valcarce, but once again Aranzubia was up to the task. Urzaiz shot wide at the other end following a corner with the goal at his mercy, but substitute Amoroso could have made it two when he failed to beat the Basque keeper in injury time. In the end though a fourth victory in a row for Antonio Tapia's side which takes them away from danger and up to within a point of their opponents.