Barcelona 2 - Atlético de Madrid 1

Barcelona: Arnau; Abelardo, Reiziger; Puyol, Xavi, Zenden; Luis Enrique, Cocu; Figo, Kluivert, Rivaldo. 2-3-2-3.
Atlético: Molina; Gaspar, Gamarra, Ayala, Capdevila; Bejbl, Aguilera, Baraja, Solari; José Mari, Hasselbaink. 4-4-2.

Louis Van Gaal surprised everyone, leaving Guardiola and Frank de Boer on the bench and bringing in youngsters Puyol and Xavi. Kluivert returned at centre forward in place of Dani. Ranieri brought in new signing Ayala to play alongside fellow Paraguayan international Gamarra in the centre of defence, and included the unsettled José Mari, recently linked with Milan, up front. Capdevila returned at left back after an inury. Kiko was on the bench again after his brief appearance in the cup on Wednesday, and Njegus was alongside him after replacing Venturín in the 25 man squad when the transfer window opened last week. Rivaldo was once again whistled at by unhappy fans at the start, but his skilful backheel to put Luis Enrique through for the first goal in the 35th minute shut them up. Referee Medina Cantalejo harshly awarded a penalty against Cocu when the ball struck his arm from close range from Aguilera's cross two minutes from half time, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink stepped up to place the ball past Arnau. Baraja had to go off with a badly torn leg muscle, and Valerón replaced him. With fifteen minutes to go Van Gaal changed Rivaldo and Cocu for Simao and Litmanen, returning from another long injury, and nine minutes from the end Barça took the lead somewhat fortuitously, Zenden's fiercely hit shot from outside of the area taking a deflection of Ayala's shoulder before speeding past Molina. Ranieri threw on Njegus and Correa without effect, and Van Gaal brought on Frank de Boer for Puyol two minutes from time. Barcelona now move up to fourth, and Atlético join a group of four teams on seventeen points fighting to avoid relegation.

Real Madrid 2 - Espanyol 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Karembeu, Hierro, Julio César, Roberto Carlos; Redondo, Guti, Ognjenovic, Savio; Raúl, Morientes. 4-4-2.
Espanyol: Cavallero; Cristóbal, Rotchen, Nando, Lopo; Velamazán, Galca, Roger, Arteaga; Benítez, Tamudo. 4-4-2.

Real Madrid finally won at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, their first home victory in the league since the end of August. They had to struggle to do so however, coming from a goal down to take the three points. Del Bosque gave Ognjenovic his first start since joining the club a year ago, albeit playing out of position on the right wing, with Julio César returning in place of Karanka in defence. Espanyol were without the suspended Navas, fellow countryman Rotchen coming in to replace him. Espanyol took the lead in the 25th minute through Benítez, who beat the offside trap to score past Casillas with a high volley. Just before half time Ognjenovic broke free on the right and crossed to Raúl, who jabbed the ball past Cavallero, crashing into the Espanyol keeper at the same time. Cavallero injured his knee and had to be replaced by Mora. The goal inspired Madrid and they came out strongly in the second half, taking the lead through Hierro who followed up after Mora had saved from a Julio César header. Brindisi brought on De Lucas and Sergio for Galca and Roger, and Del Bosque replaced Ognjenovic with Steve McManaman, just back from injury. In the 68th minute referee Pérez Lasa ruled that Nando had brought down Morientes and awarded a penalty, and with Hierro reluctant to take it after missing one against Rosenborg, Raúl accepted the responsability. However his shot went wide of the mark to the relief of Mora. Anelka came on for Morientes a quarter of an hour from the end, and for once he impressed the crowd with his skills rather than his off field antics, being unlucky on two occasions to be unfairly ruled offside when in a scoring position. In the end relief in Madrid after 111 days without a home win, and with teams close together 'in a handkerchief' as they say here, they jump up the table to twelfth place. Espanyol are one point below them in thirteenth, which is still only two points above next to last position. The next few matches should be telling for both teams.