Real Sociedad 2 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Real Sociedad: Alberto; Fuentes, Loren, Guerrero, Aranzábal; Gómez; Sa Pinto, Khokhlov, Aranburu; De Paula, Jankauskas. 4-1-3-2.
Rayo: Keller; Amaya, Clotet, Hernández, Alcázar; Pablo Sanz; Helder; Estibariz, Cembranos, Llorens; Canabal. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Real Sociedad: Loren, Aranburu, De Paula for Rekarte, Gurrutxaga, Pikabea / Rayo: Amaya, Estibariz, Canabal for Cota, Michel II, Bolo.

Goals:
1-0. 05. Jankauskas. Shot after Guerrero's throw headed on by De Paula..
2-0. 40. De Paula. Glancing header from Guerrero's cross.
2-1. 70. Ferrón. Substitute scrambled a header past Alberto.

Real Sociedad finally picked up a win to move a little bit closer to salvation, with new signing Jankauskas scoring his second goal in two games to help his side to victory. With defenders Pikabea and Gurrutxaga both suspended, Clemente lined up what for him was an attacking side, with two forwards and only four defenders, although he did cheat a bit putting Gómez just in front of the back four. Rayo had Estibariz back from injury, but Bolo was out and Canabal was given the nod up front ahead of Michel II. All three Rayo substitutes were on by half time, with Michel and Ferrón replacing Amaya and Estibariz late in the half and new signing Mark Draper making his debut, coming on at the break for Pablo Sanz with his side already two goals down. At first the changes seemed to work, and Ferrón pulled one back in a goalmouth scramble. However Rayo's French defender Hernández was sent off by Bueno Grimal for a foul on substitute Idiakez two minutes after, and when Michel had to go off with a cut head a few minutes later after his own player Llorens had accidentally trodden on him, Rayo were down to nine men. There was no way back, and Rayo drop down alarmingly to tenth after being in the UEFA cup positions two or three games ago. Real are still in the relegation zone, but if Jankauskas keeps getting goals they should gradually move up the table.

Numancia 3 - Mallorca 1

Numancia: Nuñez; Jaume, Muñiz, Iván Rocha, Octavio; Nagore, Pacheta, Castaño, Iñaki; Chispa Delgado, Ojeda. 4-4-2.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Nadal, Niño, Siviero, David; Novo, Chichi Soler, Engonga, Romerito; Diego Tristán. 5-4-1.

Team changes: Numancia: Iñaki for Barbu / Niño, Romerito for Serrizuela, Ibagaza.

Goals:
1-0. 01. Pacheta. Header after a free kick from Iñaki.
2-0. 03. Pacheta. Another header, this time from Iñaki's corner.
2-1. 12. Tristán. Lifted Novo's cross past Nuñez from close range.
3-1. 38. Castaño (pen). After Siviero sent off for tackling Ojeda from behind.

Mallorca were hit by a whirlwind in the first three minutes of the match, but it had nothing to do with the icy climatic conditions in Soria. Mallorca manager Fernando Vazquez must have been ruing his decision to keep Leo Franco in goal despite the availability of Argentina's first choice keeper Mono Burgos after a ten match suspension. To be fair to Franco, he could do little as ex Espanyol defensive midfielder Pacheta twice stole in to head identical goals with one of the best defences in the league literally frozen to the spot. Mallorca quickly snapped out of their trance, and they had a goal back within a few minutes as Diego Tristán skilfully converted Novo's cross on the near post. They were missing several key players in midfield and attack however, with Stankovic, Carlos, Ibagaza, Miguel Soler and Djokaj all injured and Biagini and Lauren away on international duty, and the absences showed. Vazquez replaced Romerito with the more experienced Carreras ten minutes before half time, but four minutes later his side were down to ten men, as referee Andradas Asurmendi awarded a penalty and sent off Mallorca defender Siviero for a tackle from behind on 'giant' Ojeda. Siviero, who was obviously upset by Ojeda's fluorescent lime green boots (who wouldn't be), received his marching orders for the third time this season, equalling Valencia's Carboni in the early bath stakes. After Castaño scored from the spot kick things calmed down, and the second half was almost without incident, although Pacheta could have completed his hat-trick with a bit more luck. Numancia keep up their incredible undefeated home record, a feat only equalled by Zaragoza this season, and they move up to within a point of the UEFA spots in eighth place. Mallorca fall below them to 11th ,and need to get their top players back in the side as soon as possible to avoid slipping further.