Alavés 2 - Mallorca 2

Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Karmona, Téllez, Torres Mestre; Morales, Desío, Astudillo, Pablo; Javi Moreno, Kodro. 4-4-2.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Nadal, Siviero, Miguel Soler; Lauren, Engonga, Chichi Soler, Carreras; Biagini, Tristán. 4-4-2

Mallorca hung on to sixth spot in the league thanks to another first class display from young striker Diego Tristán who scored both goals in their draw with Alavés. His manager Fernando Vázquez was without his injured Yugoslavian midfielder Stankovic, replaced by Carreras, but recovered Siviero in defence. Veteran defender Miguel Soler played his 400th league game of his long career, which has included spells at Barcelona and Real Madrid. Mané brought in Pablo and Moreno for Magno and Nan Ribera. Alavés were on top for most of the first half, and it was no surprise when Kodro headed the first goal after 14 minutes from Javi Moreno's cross. The home side continued to dominate until Tristán made his mark ten minutes into the second half, dribbling through the Alavés defence to beat Herrera. Ten minutes later Mallorca were ahead, Tristán showing that he can also score with his head after the converted Lauren's cross, his twelfth goal of the season, including four in European competitions. Mané brought on Salinas, Magno and Nan Ribera and threw everything forward, and four minutes from time they got their just rewards, Javi Morena heading the equaliser past Leo Franco. Alavés keep their mid-table spot, level on points with Valencia and Espanyol, and will be playing their game in hand with Racing midweek.

Athletic Bilbao 1 - Real Sociedad 1

Athletic: Imanol Etxeberria; Lacruz, Alkorta, Carlos García, Felipe; Urrutia, Alkiza; Joseba Etxeberria, Guerrero, Ezquerro; Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; Rekarte, Loren, Pikabea, Aranzábal; Kühbauer, Gómez; De Paula, Idiakez, Mutiu; Sa Pinto. 4-2-3-1.

There was added interest in the Basque derby this year as the Real Sociedad manager Javier Clemente is a fan and a season ticket holder of Athletic Bilbao, as well as being the manager who lead them to their last league championship in the early eighties. Although the arrival of Clemente was almost without incident, the match entered into a controversial last few minutes, with referee Fernández Martín disallowing what looked like a perfectly good goal by Bilbao's Lacruz in injury time. This came after an earlier Bilbao goal had also been disallowed by the referee, and a magnificent save by Real's keeper Alberto from Etxeberria in the last minute of normal time had maintained the status quo. Etxeberria had opened the scoring in the 26th minute, following up after Alberto had saved from a corner and Real substitute Aranburu equalised from a cross from López Rekarte in the second half. On a rainy night, Luis Fernández mimicked Clemente's 4-2-3-1 formation, bringing back Alkorta and Urrutia after suspension and playing Urzaiz alone up front. Real Sociedad were still without Javier De Pedro, Idiakez playing in his place, and with Bonilla off form Clemente kept Sa Pinto at centre forward. Pikabea and Rekarte returned in defence. With today's result, Bilbao have now gone 14 league games without a victory against their neighbours, and have to go back to the 1992-3 season for their last win. With Betis losing however, they move up to seventh, with Real Sociedad dropping to 14th place, only two points above the relegation places.