Espanyol 3 - Numancia 1

Espanyol: Mora; Cristóbal, Navas, Nando, Lopo; Velamazán, Galca, Roger, Arteaga; Benítez, Tamudo. 4-4-2.
Numancia: Nuñez; Belsué, Muñiz, Pacheta, Octavio; Caco Moran, Nagore, Castaño, Barbu; Rivera, Rubén Navarro. 4-4-2.

Espanyol manager Miguel Angel Brindisi saved his first match ball, his team coming from behind to win against one of this year's revelation teams, Numancia. With Mora taking over in goal from the injured Cavallero, and with Navas returning from suspension to replace Rotchen, Espanyol needed to win to stop their slide down the table and to save the head of Brindisi, questioned by local supporters recently. Ex Espanyol midfielder Pacheta dropped back to the centre of defence for Numancia in place of the suspended Iván Rocha, with Caco Moran coming into Pacheta's spot in midfield. Otero also missed the game through suspension, with young forward Rivera getting his opportunity in his place up front. The visitors took the lead in the 18th minute through Rubén Navarro, destined to return to the Montjuic Olympic stadium a few days later to represent Catalunya in their match against Yugoslavia. Numancia manager Goikoetxea got involved in an argument with referee Esquinas Torres just before half time after he disallowed a goal for Barbu for an non-exisistent hand ball, and got himself a red card, having to sit out the rest of the game in the stand. Nevertheless the sides went in at the break with the Sorians in front and looking the better team, but Brindisi was able to put some fire into the bellies of his side and they came out after half time with a spring in their step (is that a mixed metaphor or what?). Within ten minutes they were in front, with Velamazán first converting Tamudo's cross, and then crossing himself for substitute Serrano to score. Esquinas Torres then started to flash the yellow card around, and Numancia defenders Belsué and Muñiz were sent off within five minutes of each other for receiving their second. In the last minute, with the visitors down to nine men, Serrano scored his second, this time from a pass from Tamudo. Both teams are now in midtable, with Numancia one point ahead of Espanyol in eleventh place.

Betis 0 - Valladolid 1

Betis: Prats; Otero, Crosa, Bornes, Filipescu; Alexis, Karhan, Benjamín, Denilson; Finidi, Alfonso. 4-4-2.
Valladolid: César; Torres Gómez, Santamaría, García Calvo, Peña, Heinze; Vizcaino,Caminero, Jiménez; Alberto, Rodrigo. 5-3-2.

Veteran midfielder Caminero returned from injury to give Valladolid a much needed victory in Sevilla against an impotent Betis side. Caminero was one of four changes, with Heinze, new signing Javi Jiménez and Alberto also coming in for Marcos, Turiel, Lozano and Peternac. Betis had Denilson back from suspension in place of Romero, who was suffering from flu, and Griguol also included Alexis and Benjamín for Merino and Luis Fernández. Vallodolid played a physical game, and first Alfonso and then Benjamín were forced to abandon the field of play with injuries within the first half hour, Oli and then Romero coming on to substitute them. Referee Andradas Asurmendi eventually booked eight players in a bad tempered match, although Betis president Ruiz de Lopera criticised him for not getting a grip earlier. Caminero, starting a match for the first time this season, finally broke the equilibrium in the 73rd minute, following up a partly cleared shot to shoot past Prats. Valladolid climb up to 16th place, above Racing and Real Sociedad and out of the relegation spots. Having climbed up to the top half of the table, Betis now see their good work undone, and they drop down to twelfth. There are however only six points between the UEFA spots and the first relegation place, and a good or bad run makes a big difference at this stage of the competition. There will now be short break before matches resume on the 4th and 5th January.