Rayo Vallecano 1 - Barcelona 1

Rayo: Keller; Estíbariz, Cota, Hernández, Alcázar; Helder, Pablo Sanz; Ferrón, Llorens, Cembranos; Bolo. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Arnau; Abelardo, Reiziger; Puyol, Xavi, Zenden; Luis Enrique, Cocu; Simao, Kluivert, Figo. 2-3-2-3.

Controversy before this match, with Rivaldo first winning the prestigious Golden Ball (best player in Europe) award presented by the magazine France Football, and then being left completely out of the squad for this match after clashing with Barcelona manager Louis Van Gaal. Off form and unhappy about treatment received from fans recently, Rivaldo had apparently told his manager that he refused to play on the left wing any more. Van Gaal told him that he would have to play where he wanted, and left him out of the side until he makes a public apology. Could this be another one of Nuñez's money making schemes? He sold Ronaldo, Romario, Laudrup and others at the top of their form and replaced them with lesser known players. Manchester United and half the clubs in Italy are interested. His place in the side was in any case covered by Simao, with Guardiola and Frank de Boer on the substitutes bench for the second match in a row. Juande Ramos only made one change, bringing in Pablo Sanz for Michel I. The first half of the match was almost without incident, with both sides reluctant to come forward. There was however one moment of genius from the home side, with over half the team combining in first touch football before the ball reached Luis Cembranos, who scored past Arnau. Van Gaal had obviously read the riot act at half time, and a different Barcelona came out in the second half. Within six minutes they were level, Simao following up from a possible offside position after Keller had saved from Xavi. Referee Daudén Ibañez was booed by a hostile crowd for his decisions, and a rain of objects fell onto the pitch, with Figo falling to the ground struck by a battery. The visitors pushed forward for the equaliser, and Juande took off Bolo and Pablo Sanz, bringing on Michel II and Canabal. Van Gaal replaced Zenden with Litmanen. Two minutes from the end Daudén ruled that Hernández had fouled Kluivert in the area, and awarded a penalty, and all hell broke loose. Once things had calmed down Figo stepped up to strike the ball firmly to Keller's left, but the US international keeper guessed correctly and saved. Barcelona have now only taken two points from their last six away games, but they stay in fourth place, one ahead of Rayo in fifth. According to the papers, Barcelona are in crisis, whereas Rayo are being lauded by everyone. Such is football.

Alavés 1 - Real Madrid 3

Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Téllez, Karmona, Torres Mestre; Morales, Desio, Nan Ribera, Pablo; Javi Moreno, Kodro. 4-4-2.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Julio César, Roberto Carlos; Redondo, Seedorf, Ognjenovic, Savio; Raúl, Morientes. 4-4-2.

Real Madrid continued their revival with a second win in a row, this time at the expense of revelation team Alavés. Del Bosque made two changes to last Saturday's team, leaving Karembeu and Guti on the bench and bringing in Michel Salgado, back from a month's injury, and Seedorf. Mané has been playing five at the back away from home, but at Mendizorroza he uses a 4-4-2 formation, and Desio came in at midfield for defender Berruet. Javi Moreno was preferred to Gañan up front. Madrid with Hierro in the team is a different side, and it was their captain who gave them the lead in the 37th minute, striking a 25 metre free kick with a wicked effect which Herrera got a hand to but could not stop. At half time Del Bosque brought on Karanka for the injured Julio César, and Guti for Ognjenovic, and shortly afterwards Mané introduced Julio Salinas and Gañan in an attempt to get back into the game. Referee Pérez Burrull sent off the home side Romanian right back, Contra in the 73rd minute for a second bookable offence. The introduction of Guti revitalised Madrid, and the young midfielder added to the lead with a snapshot from outside of the area which surprised Herrera, hitting the post before rebounding into the net. Anelka came on for Morientes ten minutes from the end, and two minutes from the end Raúl turned Guti's shot past the Alavés keeper to put the result beyond doubt. Morales got a consolation goal for the home side in injury time, beating Casillas with a powerful shot from outside of the area. Madrid leap up the table to ninth, one place and two points behind Alavés. Madrid now take a few days holiday before travelling to Brazil for the world club championship. They will do so without Clarence Seedorf however. The unsettled Dutch star has accepted a four billion pesetas transfer to Italian giants Inter Milan, with immediate effect. The other news of the week was the refusal by Valdano to take over as general manager of the club and also the rejection of the trainers job for next season by Camacho, who renewed his contract with the football federation as national team manager.