Atlético Madrid 1 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Atlético: Leo Franco; Molinero, Perea, Pablo, Antonio López; Galletti, Luccin, Ibagaza (Gabi 46'), Petrov (Valera 77'); Kezman (Marqués 10'), Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.
Athletic: Lafuente; Lacruz, Ustariz, Luis Prieto, Casas; Iraola, Orbaiz, Murillo, Amorebieta (Dañobieta 84'); Yeste (Tiko 77'); Urzaiz (Llorente 62'). 4-4-1-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Pablo, Petrov for García Calvo, Valera / Athletic: Lacruz, Murillo, Amorebieta, Urzaiz for Expósito, Gurpegui, Etxeberría, Llorente.

Goals:
1-0. 82. Fernando Torres. Got above defence to head Gabi free kick past Lafuente.

Atlético Madrid kept their slim hopes of European football alive after a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. It was not a great performance though, and only the young Marqués, who substituted the injured Kezman in the tenth minute, gave the home fans anything to shout about. And Pepe Murcia's side were lucky to go in level at the break after Leo Franco made a couple of vital saves from Urzaiz.

Javier Clemente had lined up with seven natural defenders in his side, and as the game wore on he pulled them further and further back looking for something on the counter-attack. Even so his side felt they were unlucky to have a couple of penalty appeals turned down by Undiano Mallenco, the first after the ball hit Luccin on the arm and the second after Valera caught substitute striker Llorente with an elbow.

In the end though the hosts won through when Fernando Torres got on the end of Gabi's free kick to head past Lafuente and open the scoring. There was still time for Undiano to turn down another penalty claim from the Basques, awarding a free kick on the edge of the area after Antonio López fouled Iraola seemingly inside the box, and Llorente shot wide when presented with a good chance in the dying minutes. Atlético's luck had turned at last, and their opponents went home with nothing, leaving them back just two points away from the drop zone.