Another Basque derby in San Sebastian, with Real Sociedad and Alavés eventually drawing 1-1 in a match in which three players were sent off. Referee Llonch Andreu gave marching orders to López Rekarte (min 65) and Mutiu (min 85) of Real Sociedad and to Contra (min 60) of Alavés, all for two yellow cards, in a match which was hard but not excessively so. Real's manager Bernd Krauss left striker Bonilla on the bench, bringing in De Paula up front to play alongside Sa Pinto. Aranzábal, back from injury, came in at left wing back, and Mutiu kept his place in midfield. Alavés manager Mané added an extra defender to play with five at the back, with Javi Moreno losing his place with Magno and Kodro playing up front. The match had raised little interest, with Alavés sending back 750 of the 800 tickets they had been sent. Astudillo scored first for the away side halfway through the first half, Kodro's backheel setting him up to beat Alberto in the Real goal. This was Alavés's first goal in five games. López Rekarte brought the sides level ten minutes later with a Brazilian style goal, shooting in from a narrow angle which sent Herrera the wrong way. The Basque fullback later turned from hero to villain with his sending off. Real Sociedad drop down to 17th, one point away from the bottom, and Krauss is another manager checking his back for arrows. Mané's side drop down to tenth, and need to recover their earlier form.

Atlético de Madrid took a step closer to revival with a reasonable 3-1 victory over Valladolid. With the noose gradually closing in around president Jesus Gil's neck, (newspaper reports have suggested that he has links with the Italian Mafia and has possibly embezzled 4,400 million peseta from the local council funds in Málaga where he is mayor), interest at the club was outside of the playing fields. Gil is denying everything, but is obviously affected by the pressure: he was rushed off to hospital during the match with high blood pressure. In the meantime his side were recording their best win of the season, with Ranieri still not clear of danger but at least safe for the time being. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was doubtful before the match, but eventually recovered from an ankle injury well enough to play. Ranieri brought in Solari and Correa to the side, leaving Valerón on the bench. Manzano decided to play with three forwards in the Valladolid attack, lining up with Rodrigo and Víctor behind Alberto. Caminero was looking forward to reappearing against his old club, but another serious knee injury will keep him on the sidelines for several weeks. Capdevila scored his first goal for Atlético in the 27th minute, possibly from an offside position as the ball fell to him in the penalty area. Víctor equalised on the hour after a good move by the away side resulted in substitute Congo's pass being turned in by the striker. Ten minutes later Solari got the lead back with a shot which César got a hand to but couldn't hold, and Hasselbaink headed the third on full time, his fifth league goal of the season. Atlético rise off the bottom to sixteenth, and Valladolid stay in midtable.