Rayo Vallecano 2 - Sevilla 0

Rayo: Keller; Clotet, Cota, Amaya, Alcázar; Helder, Pablo Sanz; Ferrón, Llorens, Cembranos; Bolo. 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Valencia; Tabaré, Hibic, Héctor, Nando; Francisco, Quevedo, Tsartas, Jesuli; Loren, Zalayeta. 4-4-2.

Rayo Vallecano moved back up to fifth place in the league with this victory over bottom club Sevilla, their best ever start in the first half of the season in the first division. Last year these two clubs met in the second division, with Sevilla winning both matches by 4-1. This year the story was very different, with an on-form home side dominating the match on an icy pitch and doing just enough to take the three points. The absence of key defenders Hernández and Estibariz was hardly noticed, with Amaya and Clotet covering well, and it was Clotet who opened the scoring in the fourth minute, heading Luis Cembranos cross wide of Valencia and in to the net. With top scorer Juan Carlos suspended for two matches, Loren was no substitute, and Sevilla lacked fire power up front. Marchena was also missing in defence through suspension with Tabaré coming into the side, and the indiscipline, and consequently the high number of players suspended throughout the season, is one of the reasons Sevilla have not had a settled side. At half time Marcos Alonso brought on youngster Víctor for Loren, and later in the half introduced Angel and Soriano as they tried to pull back the goal advantage. However it was a Rayo substitute, Dani Bouzas, making his debut in the first division, who laid on the second goal for Rayo, working a one two with Cembranos before crossing for Bolo to score. Bouzas may well be leaving on loan this week now that FIFA have temporarily suspended their transfer ban against Rayo for the 'Klimowicz affair' (the club has been reported for non-payment of around 220 million Pesetas in transfer fees relating to this ex player, which Rayo say they do not owe). The ban has already caused cancellations and delays in the signing of new players, such as the failed signing of Shoji Jo who has now joined Valladolid (curiously, Jo was in Madrid on the day of the match, and took the opportunity to watch the game). Expect some frantic activity this week at Vallecas, and possibly in Sevilla as well, with only a few days left before the transfer window closes.

Atlético de Madrid 1 - Mallorca 0

Atlético: Molina; Gaspar, Gamarra, Santi, Capdevila; Aguilera, Bejbl, Hugo Leal, Solari; Kiko, Hasselbaink. 4-4-2.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Nadal, Siviero, David; Lauren, Engonga, Chichi Soler, Carreras; Carlos, Tristán. 4-4-2.

Worrying days at the Vicente Calderón stadium in Madrid, where the Jesus Gil affair continues. Once again there were demonstrations at the ground before the match, with famous ex players such as Paolo Futre joining angry fans in support of the Gil family and against the legal intervention, and fans stayed in the stairwells of the ground as a further protest when the match kicked off. Meanwhile the court case continues, with board members declaring before the judge this week. Local papers also reported the concern of the players, who earn a large part of their salaries in off-shore promotional contracts (up to 80% in some cases, e.g. Hasselbaink). The legality of these has been questioned, and one paper (El Mundo) suggested that the players were committing a tax fraud which could see them in jail (players are considering taking legal action against the paper). Even if the payments are legal, it is unlikely that they will be paid in the future as the administrator has no official record of these, which means that many players could leave at the end of the season, or even before. Chamot for example is already negotiating his return to Italy, and Ranieri has said he will go in June. Inside the ground the directors box was empty, as legal administrator and new president Luis Manuel Rubí banned the Gil family from attending, and although a lifelong Atleti fan himself, preferred to watch the match on a television in his office given the protests. Despite all that, the team rallied round and produced a winning performance against the ever dangerous Mallorca. With Chamot suspended for five matches for an aggression in the last match, and Ayala a last minute casualty, Gamarra and Santi came in to the defence, with Gaspar joining them, Aguilera moving forward to take the place of Njegus in midfield. Solari came in for Valerón, with the big news the return of Kiko up front in place of Paunovic. This was the first time that Kiko and Hasselbaink started a match together, and if Atlético fans have anything to look forward to it is this potentially exciting partnership. Fernando Vázquez only made one change to the Mallorca side, the newly Spanish nationalised Siviero returning in defence in place of Niño. In the end only one goal separated the sides, with Hasselbaink scoring his seventeenth of the season and his tenth in eleven games from the penalty spot just after the break after Aguilera had been fouled by David. Ranieri brought on Valerón for Solari at half time, and on the hour Correa came on for Kiko, who was given yet another standing ovation as he left the field. Vázquez threw on 3 forwards, Djokaj, Ibagaza and Quinteros, but Molina was in excellent form and kept the visitors at bay. Atlético rise to 14th, level on points with Espanyol, Real Madrid and Betis, and Mallorca drop out of the UEFA spots to 9th.