Racing de Santander 1 - Real Madrid 1

Racing: Ceballos; Mellberg, Neru, Sietes; Manjarín, Espina, Ismael, Amavisca; Vivar Dorado, Salva, Bestchastnykh. 3-4-3.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Karanka, Karembeu, Hierro, Roberto Carlos; Helguera, Redondo, Guti, Savio; Raúl, Morientes. 4-4-2.

Casillas, Hierro, Redondo, Seedorf, Txema, Arzeno; Munitis Real Madrid's bad run continues, and they now have won only one game in their last thirteen matches. Despite the return of club captains Hierro and Redondo to the side they are still not producing convincing performances, and caretaker manager Vicente Del Bosque may well be returning to his old job soon as president Lorenzo Sanz tries to find a way out of the mire. Ex player and manager Jorge Valdano is apparently thinking over an offer from Sanz to take over as general manager of the club, with full powers to do as he pleases. On the field of play it looked at first as if Madrid would follow up their good Champions League win midweek with another victory, as Raúl once again popped up to put his side into the lead after a goalmouth scramble in the 24th minute. Touted recently for at least third prize in the European player of the year award, the young striker is close to being canonised by the Madrid club. Del Bosque had named an unchanged side from the team who beat Rosenborg, and it seemed to be working. Racing were however without four key players, Arzeno (suspended), Tais and Txema (both injured) in defence and Munitis (suspended) in attack. The rains came, Rushfeldt came on for Bestchastnykh, Anelka came on for Savio and Sanchis came on for Morientes, who had earlier had an appeal for a penalty turned down. With ten minutes to go Salva got off a shot from close range which Casillas could only half stop, and the ball fell to Vivar Dorado who put the ball into an empty net. Madrid's appeals for offside were turned away by referee Andradas Asurmendi. The game ended in a draw, with Real Madrid climbing just ahead of city rivals Atlético on goal average, but still only a point away from relegation. Racing, who themselves have gone seven games without a victory, are only a point above them. A bomb warning call four hours before the match was checked out by the police, but in the end they decided the match could go ahead. Some people wished it hadn't. Watch this space.

Atlético Madrid 1 - Valencia 2

Atlético: Molina; Santi, Gamarra, Chamot, Gustavo; Bejbl, Aguilera, Baraja, Valerón; Correa, Hasselbaink. 4-4-2.
Valencia: Palop; Angloma, Djukic, Pellegrino, Carboni; Milla, Farinós, Mendieta, Gerard; Claudio López, Juan Sánchez. 4-4-2.

Referee Japón Sevilla did it again for the second time in a week. The computer had picked him out to officiate in this key match only four days after his controversial performance in the postponed game between Alavés and Racing, and he was once again at the centre of attention as he sent off three Valencia players in the second half to leave the visiting side with eight men. First it was Gerard who picked up a second yellow card for a hard tackle halfway through the second half, and shortly afterwards it was Carboni who got his second for kicking away a ball. Piojo López joined them near the end, again for a second yellow card for a tackle from behind. It was still Valencia who came away with the three points however, as they hung on to a 1-2 lead to leave Atlético struggling near the bottom. Mendieta had given them the lead in the 16th minute after he bundled in a cross from Farinós, and although Hasselbaink equalised from a well struck shot on the half hour, Juan Sánchez put them back in front with a shot which bounced past Molina after a good cross from Piojo. The referee missed a handball from Angloma near the line which could have given the home side a point, but in the end they went off to boos from their own crowd and shouts from supporters against their own management. In a few days time Ayala will be eligible to play and Kiko is very close to returning after a year long injury, so it is not all gloom and doom. Valencia's victory moves them up incredibly to seventh spot, only weeks after they were struggling at the bottom. They will however be without key players for their match against Rayo next week.