Mallorca 2 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Nadal, Siviero, David; Novo, Ibagaza, Chichi Soler, Engonga, Serrizuela; Diego Tristán. 5-4-1.
Rayo: Keller; Clotet, Cota, Hernández, Alcázar; Pablo Sanz; Helder; Michel I, Cembranos, Llorens; Bolo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Mallorca: Olaizola, Engonga, Tristán for Niño, Romerito, Carlos / Rayo: Pablo Sanz for Ferrón.

Goals:
1-0. 20. David. Keller punched out Soler's free kick, David followed up.
1-1. 63. Canabal. Looping header from a corner.
2-1. 92. Tristán. Penalty after Cembranos brought down Soler.

Mallorca scraped a win in the last minute of this match from a penalty which was to say the least dubious. Luis Cembranos tackled Chichi Soler on the edge of the area, seemingly just outside of the area, the veteran midfielder fell forward and Mejuto González pointed straight to the spot. The new Spanish international protested to the referee, but he would not change his mind, and Diego Tristán stepped up to blast the ball past Keller. The island side were still without several key players, although Olaizola, Engonga and Armando were available after suspension, and Tristán was fit again. They should recover other players next week, in particular keeper Burgos who finally completes his ten match suspension with this match. Rayo only made one change, with Pablo Sanz back from suspension, and there was no place for new signing Mark Draper, who manager Juande Ramos says he does not know and never asked for. Rayo started strongly, and Leo Franco was called upon to make a couple of saves, demonstrating that Burgos will not automatically get his place back on his return. After Mallorca's first goal, Ramos brought on Canabal and Ferrón for Bolo and Cota, and a short time later they were level, with the big forward rising above the home defence to place a header out of Franco's reach. It seemed they had done enough to get a point when Tristán struck. Mallorca move up to within a point of Rayo in eighth place.

Numancia 0 - Real Madrid 0

Numancia: Nuñez; Jaume, Muñiz, Iván Rocha, Octavio; Nagore, Pacheta, Castaño, Barbu; Chispa Delgado, Ojeda. 4-4-2.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Helguera, Julio César, Roberto Carlos; McManaman, Redondo, Guti, Savio; Raúl, Morientes. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Numancia: Octavio, Pacheta, Chispa Delgado for Belsué, Muñoz, Caco Moran / Madrid: Julio César, Guti for Hierro, Karembeu.

Goals: None.

Icy conditions in Soria, with ground staff clearing snow off the pitch in the days leading up to this match, and one goal mouth where the sun did not reach frozen over and treacherous. The atmosphere inside the ground was anything but icy however, as a capacity crowd turned up to see their side take on Real Madrid in the first division for the first time in the club's history. Numancia are having an incredible first season, and they maintained their unbeaten home record with a score-less draw which could have been a victory with a bit more luck. Madrid were restricted by Numancia's small pitch, reduced by a metre either side this season on orders from canny manager Goikoetxea, who knew that his team could be beaten by faster sides who use the wings to get round his defence. With Rubén Navarro still injured, Goiko brought in new signing Chispa Delgado to join Ojeda up front, the tall couple forming a formidable strike force in the air. Hierro was missing from the Madrid side after being sent off last week, but Guti was back from his suspension in midfield. Goiko's tactic is to smother the opposition midfield, and with McManaman not yet back to form, Del Bosque decided to bring Sanchis on in his place during the second half. Numancia could have sneaked a win later in the half when Barbu lobbed keeper Casillas, only to see his shot hooked off the line by Iván Helguera. Casillas was lucky not to give away a penalty in the same incident as he crashed into the Romanian forward. the young Madrid keeper was however his team's best player, keeping out the Numancia forwards on several occasions. In the end Goiko settled for a draw, and took off his two giants and putting on more reasonable sized players Pérez and Iñaki. Numancia's point keeps them above Madrid for the time being in ninth place, but the league is so tight that if Madrid win against Betis next Wednesday they will be up to seventh, with another game still in hand. They will be without Hierro and Raúl for that match, on international duty with Spain despite strong protests from the club, but Betis will be without Finidi, playing with Nigeria in the African Nations Cup.