Athletic Bilbao 3 - Albacete 1

Athletic: Aranzubia; Javi González, Lacruz, Luis Prieto, Casas (Julen Guerrero 46'); Gurpegui, Orbaiz; Iraola, Etxeberría (Solabarrieta 84'), Ezquerro; Urzaiz (Llorente 61'). 4-2-3-1.
Albacete: Valbuena; Gaspar, Buades, Santi (Oscar Montiel 64'), Peña; Pablo García (Mikel 76'), David Sánchez (Mark González 54'), Viaud, Redondo; Pacheco, Rubén Castro. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Athletic: Javi González, Luis Prieto, Ezquerro, Urzaiz for Murillo, Jonan García, Tiko, Llorente / Albacete: Santi, Redondo, Pablo García, Rubén Castro for Oscar Montiel, Peralta, Mark González, Francisco.

Goals:
0-1. 12. Rubén Castro. Connected with Peña cross to turn ball in from close up.
1-1. 40. Ezquerro. Hooked ball into net after Lacruz headed back cross from right.
2-1. 70. Lacruz. Tap in on far post after Luis Prieto headed on corner.
3-1. 93. Julen Guerrero. Bent free kick over defensive wall wide of keeper.

Athletic Bilbao bounced back from their elimination from the UEFA cup last weekend to come from behind and beat struggling Albacete 3-1. With Ernesto Valverde announcing he had turned down an offer to carry on next year as well, the atmosphere in the San Mamés stadium was cool at the start, but Ezquerro warmed things up with a couple of efforts which Valbuena kept out early on. However Rubén Castro put a damper on proceedings again in the twelfth minute when he opened the scoring for the visitors, stabbing the ball past Aranzubia after the defence failed to cut out Peña's cross.

Ezquerro and Etxeberría both got the ball in the net after that only to see their efforts ruled out for offside, bur five minutes before the break Ezquerro equalised when he hooked the ball in to the net after Lacruz had headed on a long cross. Valbuena saved well from Gurpegui before the half time whistle, but Pacheco and Castro both gave the local fans a fright before Lacruz put his side ahead after Luis Prieto had headed on a corner. And young substitute Llorente tested Valbuena again before team captain Julen Guerrero added a third from a well struck free kick in injury time, his 100th goal in the league for his club. Last weekend's tribulations were forgotten, and Athletic are back on the European track.