Athletic Bilbao 2 - Betis 0

Athletic: Aranzubia; Iraola, Luis Prieto, Lacruz, Casas; Orbaiz, Gurpegui; Etxeberría, Yeste (Tiko 78'), Dañobeitia (Expósito 68'); Urzaiz (Julen Guerrero 60'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Doblas; Melli, Juanito, Rivas (Dani 46'), Luis Fernández (Xisco 46'); Varela, Marcos Assunçao (Fernando 75'), Rivera, Oscar López; Joaquín, Edu. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Athletic: Iraola, Murillo, Casas, Urzaiz for Expósito, Tarantino, Bordas / Betis: Rivas, Oscar López for Xisco, Fernando.

Goals:
1-0. 21. Urzaiz. Directed header wide of Doblas from Yeste's long cross.
2-0. 29. Dañobeitia. Cut in from left wing and fired shot in off near post.

Athletic Bilbao beat fellow strugglers Betis 2-0 to move out of the relegation spots and leave their opponents firmly anchored to the bottom of the table. The game got off to a lively start, Yeste hitting the post for Javier Clemente's side in the fifth minute before Joaquín (playing in a more forward role than usual) fired a shot over the bar at the other end.

Urzaiz headed the hosts in to the lead though from Yeste's cross a few minutes later, and after Edu had a goal disallowed for offside, youngster Dañobeitia cut in from the left wing to shoot in off the post for his side's second, his first goal in the top flight. And Urzaiz could have wrapped things up before the break when he headed another good chance over the top with the goal at his mercy.

Serra Ferrer had lined up with four full backs in the side, but he made a double substitution at the break to return to his more normal formation. With nothing to lose the visitors threw everything forward, and Dani forced a good save out of Aranzubia later on. But when Oscar López was sent off for a high kick which left Tiko with a bloody nose their challenge ended, and Athletic had recorded their first home win since the opening day of the season.