Racing Santander 0 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Racing: Dudu Aouate; Moratón, Oriol, Juanma; Regragui (Jonathan 75'), Torrado, Regueiro; Morán, Parri (Jonathan 79'), Benayoun; Javi Guerrero (Aganzo 70'). 3-3-3-1.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Iraola, Lacruz, Gurpegui, Casas (Del Horno 65'); Solabarrieta (Urzaiz 55'), Orbaiz; Etxeberría, Tiko, Yeste (Julen Guerrero 72'); Ezquerro. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Racing: Oriol, Torrado, Parri for Pablo Casar, Anderson Silva, Aganzo / Athletic: Lacruz, Casas, Solabarrieta, Tiko for Murillo, Luis Prieto, Del Horno, Urzaiz.

Goals:
0-1. 94. Orbaiz (penalty). After Juanma ruled to have handled in the area.
0-2. 95. Tiko. Picked up clearance and rolled ball into empty net from touchline.

Athletic Bilbao took advantage of slip ups by the teams above them to close up on the top spots after beating Racing Santander 0-2, and they are now just two points below sixth placed Espanyol. They left it late though, winning in injury time thanks to a controversial penalty awarded by infamous linesman Rafa Guerrero when Ezquerro's header hit Juanma on the leg and bounced up on to his arm, Orbaiz converting the kick once the protests from the local players calmed down.

Up to that point the Cantabrians had clearly dominated the game, Torrado heading Parri's corner on to the bar early on and Aranzubia doing well to close down Javi Guerrero when through on goal. Javi Guerrero, Regueiro and Morán all put efforts wide after the restart, and Lacruz headed off the line from Benayoun near the end with the keeper beaten.

However with the game already well in to injury time Athletic got that hotly disputed penalty, and Racing threw all their players forward, including keeper Aouate. The ball broke to Tiko though, and completely unmarked he rolled a long shot into the empty net from close to the right touchline to make it two. The protests continued on after the final whistle, Jonathan being shown a red card for insulting the offending linesman, and the officials eventually having to leave the field under police protection. Rafa was back!