Valladolid 2 - Numancia 0

Valladolid: César; Torres Gómez, Santamaría, García Calvo, Peña, Marcos; Caminero, Lozano, Rodrigo; Alberto, Víctor. 5-3-2.
Numancia: Nuñez; Belsué, Muñiz, Iván Rocha, Jaume, Muñoz; Caco Moran, Nagore, Castaño; Barbu, Ojeda. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Lozano, Víctor for Chema, Jiménez / No Change Shoji Jo made his debut seven minutes from time.

Goals:
1-0. 55. Rodrigo. Clever through ball from Caminero.
2-0. 71. Víctor. Lobbed keeperNuñez.

The pre-match build up was overshadowed by the signing of Japanese world cup star Shoji Jo for Valladolid, with 50 reporters from Japan spending the last week in Valladolid, and television cameras from NHK transmitting the match live. Manager Gregorio Manzana did not include his new signing in the starting line up however as the player still has to acclimatise, and was not yet considered match fit. He did make an appearance in the last few minutes though, with local fans applauding his entry onto the field, and he showed some good touches during his brief appearance. Manzana did have Víctor fit again, thankfully, as he and Rodrigo have scored 15 of their 18 goals this season. It was the two on form players who scored the goals in this match, giving Valladolid their seventh game in a row without defeat, and moving them up to 14th place. Earlier Numancia, fielding an unchanged side, had come closest to scoring after Ojeda hit the post in the first half, the ball bouncing across the front of the goal before being cleared. They drop down to 10th on 27 points, but are still having a dream season after winning promotion for the first time ever this year. Meanwhile the reporters are struggling with phrase books and preparing tourist guides to Valladolid and other grounds for their latest fans. Their first task will be to learn how to say Valladolid (bal-yad-o-lid). Given the problems that even British commentators have on television with this name, imagine the problems for a Japanese. Good luck to you all!

Racing 1 - Valencia 1

Racing: Lemmens; Mellberg, Neru, Txema; Tais, Espina, Colsa, Sietes; Vivar Dorado; Salva, Munitis. 3-4-1-2.
Valencia: Cañizares; Gerardo, Djukic, Bjorklund, Carboni; Angulo, Gerard, Mendieta, Farinós; Ilie, Claudio López. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Txema, Tais, Colsa for Amavisca, Manjarín, Ismael / Cañizares, Bjorklund, Angulo, Farinós, Ilie for Palop, Pellegrino, Milla, Kily González, Juan Sánchez.

Goals:
0-1. 34. Mendieta (Pen). Tais pulled down Ilie.
1-1. Salva (Pen). Dubious foul on Moran on edge of area.

Racing continue their awful run at home, saving a point against Valencia with a last minute penalty which wasn't, but failing to win at home again for the eighth match in a row. Both teams were forced to make several changes through suspensions, illness and injury, and Racing manager Gustavo Benítez had to cobble together a makeshift midfield, with defender Tais having to play out of position although injured himself. Héctor Cúper seriously toyed with the idea of leaving Claudio López on the bench as transfer rumours have affected his form, but in the end he played, with Ilie coming in for Juan Sánchez. Spanish first choice keeper Cañizares finally won back his place in the starting line up to the detriment of Palop, who stormed out of the ground after the match. The game was dominated by two doubtful penalties awarded by referee Esquinas Torres, the first after Tais was ruled to have pulled Ilie's shirt, (with the Romanian striker falling remarkably easily), and the second in the last minute after Angulo fouled substitute Moran (who had replaced Tais at half time) a yard or two outside of the area. Moran stumbled a couple of steps before falling just inside the line, and Racing's physical trainer Marcelo Giarruso ran on to the pitch to berate the referee. His protest worked, and Esquinas Torres pointed to the spot, but not before showing the red card to the home team trainer. He didn't care, Salva stepped up to smash home the kick for his twenty-first goal in twenty games, and Racing were level. Thanks to their away form they are still not in the relegation zone, but they have to get their act together at home if they are to survive. Valencia stay in the top half of the table, but problems in the dressing room, with Cúper falling out with many of the players, could cause problems later in the season.