Athletic de Bilbao 1 - Mallorca 1

Athletic: Imanol Etxeberria; Lacruz, Carlos García, Ferreira, Larrazábal; Felipe, Urrutia; Alkiza; Joseba Etxeberria, Alkiza, Ezquerro; Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Nadal, Siviero, Armando; Serrizuela, Chichi Soler, Engonga,Miguel Soler; Carlos, Diego Tristán. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Bilbao: Larrazábal, Urrutia, Ezquerro for José Mari, Yeste, Guerrero / Mallorca: Armando, Siviero, Miguel Soler for Niño, David, Carreras

Goals:
1-0. 22. Diego Tristán. Beats Etxeberria after bad back pass from Felipe.
1-1. 65. Ferreira. Header from Guerrero's corner which Tristán touched in own net.

Honours were shared in this bad-tempered match, which saw fortunes swing from end to end throughout. First it was a penalty awarded to Bilbao in the 20th minute after Leo Franco was harshly adjudged to have fouled Urzaiz by referee Esquinas Torres. However Leo Franco saved Larrazábal's poorly struck spot kick at the second attempt, and Mallorca raced upfield. The ball was recovered by Felipe, but his back pass to Etxeberria went astray, and Diego Tristán nipped in to take it round a defender and shoot past the keeper. Then around the 20th minute of the second half roles were reversed, with Mallorca being awarded a penalty after Felipe fouled Olaizola. Bilbao were incensed, as play should have been stopped earlier for a foul by Miguel Soler on Etxeberria, who stayed on the ground injured. However Esquinas Torres had decided to play the advantage rule (booking Soler when play stopped), a decision which backfired as Mallorca quickly won the ball back and ignored shouts from the home side and fans to put the ball out of play to attend the injured player (later the Mallorca manager justified the play, as Bilbao had earlier had a chance to do so when they had the ball). Once again the penalty kick was missed, this time by Diego Tristán who blasted the ball over the bar, possibly feeling a bit guilty for what had just happened. Play switched to the other end, with Julen Guerrero, who had just come on together with Tiko in a double change for Alkiza and Larrazábal, taking a corner from the left. Ferreira headed it goalwards, and the unfortunate Tristán could only deflect it back into his own net with his head. Both keepers were on fine form after that, with Leo Franco demonstrating why he is keeping his fellow countryman Mono Burgos out of the team tipping a clever overhead kick by Urzaiz over the bar. After the match both managers, Luis Fernández and Fernando Vázquez, accused each other of ungentlemanly conduct, but Vázquez must be the happier of the two after taking an away point, keeping his unbeaten record at the San Mames after also taking points with Compostela and Oviedo. Both teams stay around the top half of the table, looking reasonably placed to secure a UEFA spot if they can maintain their form.

Celta 4 - Real Sociedad 1

Celta: Pinto; Velasco, Cáceres, Sergio, Vivas; Makelele, Giovanella; Karpin, Revivo, Gustavo López; McCarthy. 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; Gurrutxaga, Fuentes, Loren; López Rekarte, Khokhlov, Aranburu, Aranzábal; De Paula, Sa Pinto; Jankauskas. 3-4-2-1.

Team changes: Celta: Gustavo López for Hoogendorp / Real: Sa Pinto for Gómez.

Goals:
0-1. 22. De Paula. Header from Aranzábal's cross.
1-1. 59. Fuentes (own goal). Turned ball into own net from Makalele's centre.
2-1. 63. Sergio. Header after Karpin headed headed on corner.
3-1. 76. Gustavo López. One two with Karpin finished with shot across keeper.
4-1. Gustavo López. Shot from left after Benni stepped over Mostovoi's cross.

It was a real game of two halves at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo, with Real Sociedad dominating the first half, but falling apart in the second after the rigorous sending off of López Rekarte by referee Medina Cantelejo just before the break for a second bookable offence. Javier Clemente shuffled his team formation around once again, bringing back Sa Pinto in a three man attack. With Rekarte and Aranburu playing as wing backs and joining the attacks, the team appeared more coherent, and the first goal come from a break down the left by Aranzábal. Celta had once again looked short of something, and with his opponents down to ten men and with defender Gómez replacing goalscorer De Paula for the visitors at half time, manager Víctor Fernández decided to bring on an extra man in midfield in place of a defender. It was time then for 'the Tzar' to make his entrance: Alexander Mostovoi had been out for the last couple of games with an injury and Víctor had not wanted to risk him from the start. However, his entry after the break in place of Vivas proved one of the turning points of the match and Celta's confidence returned quickly, turning around the match in twenty minutes. Real Sociedad brought on Aldeondo for Fuentes and came out looking for the draw, but left themselves open at the back, allowing Celta to go further ahead. Víctor brought on new signing Belmadi for his first appearance in place of Revivio, then introduced youngster Coira four minutes from time for his first showing. This was a reward for his patience, having sat on the bench for 18 games without being given a kick. Medina left Real Sociedad with nine men near the end when he sent off Jankauskas for a clumsy tackle, and after Benni McCarthy had gone close, Gustavo López finished things off with a neatly taken goal. Celta move up level with third placed Barcelona on 38 points, and seem to have recovered their momentum after having had problems in their dressing room, with Dutruel, Mazinho and Djorovic sidelined after clashing with the manager. Real Sociedad have now only won one of their last 12 games and drop further into the relegation zone. Rumours suggest that Clemente is on his last legs, and may even be replaced this week. Relegation would be a disaster for them, but it is a real possibility at the moment and they need to react quickly. Same time next week...