Athletic: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Bóveda, Laporte, Balenziaga; Beñat (Iturraspe 72’), San José; Lekue (Williams 46’), Raúl García (Mikel Rico 92’), Muniain; Aduríz. 4-2-3-1.
Sporting: Cuéllar; Lillo, Babín (Sergio Álvarez 35’), Amorebieta, Canella (Burgui 77’); Xavi Torres; Víctor Rodríguez, Carmona, Viguera (Moi Gómez 63’), Isma López; Duje Cop. 4-1-4-1.
Goals:
0-1. 27. Duje Cop (penalty). After Bóveda bundled over Cop inside the area.
1-1. 50. Muniain. Latched on to Williams centre and poked shot past Cuéllar.
2-1. 71. Aduríz (penalty). After Moi Gómez brought down Muniain in area.
Yellow cards: Amorebieta 29’, Williams 66’, Carmona 68’, Aduríz 83’, Mikel Rico 84’, Xavi Torres 85’, Raúl García 92’.
Athletic Bilbao took advantage of the slips by the teams above them, a 2-1 win against Sporting Gijón taking them to within two points of the European spots. Duje Cop missed an early chance before giving the visitors the lead from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Bóveda with just under half an hour gone. However San José brought a good save out of Cuéllar soon after the restart, and minutes later Muniain connected with a centre from half time substitute Williams to volley in the equalizer. Aduríz and Amorebieta tested the keepers at both ends, and with twenty minutes to go Aduríz converted a second penalty after Moi Gómez tripped Muniain from behind in the area. The defeat leaves Sporting further adrift in the bottom three, still five points away from safety.