Athletic Bilbao 1 - Mallorca 0

Athletic: Aranzubia; Iraola, Ustaritz, Sarriegi, Expósito; Javi Martínez, Murillo; Etxeberría, Yeste (Javi González 72'), Gabilondo (Urzaiz 46'); Aduríz (Tiko 81'). 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Moyà; Héctor, Ballesteros, Nunes, Fernando Navarro; Varela (Jankovic 68'), Pereyra, Ibagaza, Jonás Gutiérrez (Trejo 86'); Víctor (Maxi López 68'), Arango. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Athletic: Ustaritz, Etxeberría, for Luis Prieto, Amorebieta, / Mallorca: Víctor for Basinas.

Goals:
1-0. 63. Urzaiz (penalty). After Nunes pulled Aduriz back by shirt inside area.

Athletic Bilbao took a step closer to safety after beating Mallorca 1-0, and they ended the weekend four points above the drop zone. A 40,000 crowd turned up at the San Mamés stadium to cheer their side on, although their collection hearts were in their mouths when Víctor headed Ibagaza's free kick just wide in the first minute. Aduríz wasted a chance, Sarriegi had a penalty appeal turned down and Yeste almost caught out Moyà with an inswinging corner though as Athletic took control, and Gabilondo was unlucky to have a goal ruled out close to half time after Etxeberría was ruled offside.

The second half began the same way as the first, Víctor bringing a point blank save out of Aranzubia. A few minutes later though referee Medina Cantalejo did them a favour when he awarded them a penalty after Nunes held on to Aduriz's shirt, half time substitute Urzaiz slotting away the resulting spot kick. Jonás and Jankovic both came close to equalising, but Javi González missed a complete sitter late on which could have saved the long suffering fans the last few nervous minutes before the referee's whistle finally went.