Athletic Bilbao 1 - Deportivo La Coruña 2

Athletic: Aranzubia; Iraola, Lacruz, Amorebieta (Murillo 69'), Expósito; Orbaiz, Tiko (Urzaiz 46'); Etxeberría, Julen Guerrero, Dañobeitia (Bordas 61'); Aduriz. 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Molina; Coloccini, Andrade, Juanma, Capdevila; Sergio, Duscher; Víctor (Scaloni 87'), Valerón, Munitis (Romero 79'); Diego Tristán (Arizmendi 46'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Amorebieta, Tiko, Julen Guerrero, Aduriz for Luis Prieto, Casas, Gurpegui, Yeste / Depor: Coloccini, Víctor for Manuel Pablo, Romero.

Goals:
0-1. 24. Lacruz (own goal). Slid ball into own net trying to clear Valerón cross.
1-1. 61. Urzaiz. Got above defence to head Etxeberría cross over Molina.
1-2. 64. Arizmendi. Got on the end of Munitis free kick to touch ball under keeper.

Two mistakes by Athletic Bilbao defenders allowed Deportivo La Coruña to come away from the San Mamés stadium with a 1-2 win. Javier Clemente was hoping to turn the Basque side's fortunes around after a bad end to the year, and he gave Julen Guerrero only his second start in the league in over three years. The veteran captain was active early on, heading a corner over the bar and then setting up Aduriz for him to get the ball in the net only for the strike to be ruled out for a clear offside.

Midway through the first half though, Amorebieta tried to clear an innocent looking cross from Valerón and only managed to hit fellow defender Lacruz who slid it in to his own net. Aduriz came close to levelling the scores before the break with a spectacular volley just over the top from Etxeberría's cross, but with his side still behind at half time Clemente decided to bring on an extra forward, Urzaiz replacing Tiko.

Joaquín Caparrós also brought on striker Arizmendi at the interval, and the new signing tested Aranzubia soon after the restart. Urzaiz levelled the scores with a powerful header from Etxeberría's cross on the hour mark, but just a couple of minutes later Arizmendi got the winner when he deflected a Munitis free kick down through the legs of Aranzubia. Athletic were beaten, and Capdevila came close to a third goal for the visitors with a late free kick which brushed the post.