Great Spectacle from European hopefuls.

In a colder than normal San Mames, Athletic Bilbao hosted fellow European hopefuls Espanyol. Both teams had been on good form of late. The lions with two wins and a draw in their last three home games. While Espanyol came into the fixture unbeaten in their last six league games, winning four and drawing two.

Athletic coach Marcel Bielsa made three changes for this game, with the Argentinian replacing Amorebieta, Ander and Susaeta with San Jose, Inigo Perez and David Lopez respectively. Clearly he had one eye on Tuesday's Copa Rel Rey second leg clash with Mirandes.
Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino handed a debut to new loan signing Coutinho and his other new signing Karl Uche was on the bench.

Right from the kick-off there was a great intensity from Athletic who were playing from left two right in the first half. Within the first ten minutes Athletic had the ball in the net but Llorente was adjudged to have foul a defender in the run up. Both team's exchanged shots and possession for a spell. But in the 26th minute De Marcos scored for the home team, an attempted clearance fell to the midfielder who was on hand to score the first goal of the game.

Soon Espanyol came into the game a bit more and forced a corner, which Athletic youngster finding himself booked for contesting it shouldn't have been a corner. The game was now being played at a high tiempo and end-to-end stuff from both teams. Espanyol's pressure finally paid off when the ball was played nicely to Romaric who slotted home the equaliser from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Half-time.

When the players emerged after the break, Bielsa made two changes with Ander Herrera and Susaeta replacing Perez and Lopez. But in the 47th minute Espanyol took the lead through Slovakian midfielder Weiss's sublime shot. The lead was short lived, as they conceded a free in their own half. The ball was swung in and Fernando Lloente was on hand to score a trademark header and level the game.

With less than 30 minutes left New boy Coutinho was stretchered off and replaced. Moments after from an Ander cross Athletic scored again this time from Spanish International Javi Martinez. 3-2 Athletic lead. In form striker Llorente was then replaced by hard working striker Toquero, the latter making his 100th appearance for the Basques.

But as Athletic tried to hold onto the lead, Espanyol scored in stoppage time. This time the equaliser from Albin with a great finish. Full time and final score 3-3.

Arguably Athletic were the better team but failed to make a majority of possession play. They will be hoping these points dropped wont come back to haunt them in later stages of the season. Espanyol on their part played well and scored two terrific goals