Alavés 1 - Oviedo 0

Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Karmona, Téllez, Torres Mestre; Pablo, Desio; Javi Moreno, Azkoitia, Ibon Begoña; Kodro. 4-2-3-1.
Oviedo: Esteban; Boris, Onopko, Danjou; Amieva, Paulo Bento, Iván Anía, Rabarivony; Pompei; Losada, Dely Valdés. 3-4-1-2.

Team changes: Alavés: Contra, Karmona, Kodro for Morales, Eggen, Nan Ribera / Oviedo: Eskurza for Rabarivony.

Goals:
1-0. Desio. Long shot deflected off Boris which ballooned over Esteban.

Alavés continued their slow steady rise to the upper reaches of the league table with a single goal victory against struggling Oviedo. The win was more than welcome, as the Vitoria based side have had problems recently at home, losing threee out of their last four matches, although they did win last week against Barcelona in the Camp Nou. Oviedo for their part continue their atrocious away record, and next Monday 14th they will complete a full year since their last league victory outside of the Carlos Tartiere stadium. The Alavés side was strengthened by the return of captain Karmona, veteran striker Julio Salinas (substitute today) and Romania's Contra, all back from suspension, and Meho Kodro who returned up front after an injury. Oviedo brought in Eskurza, with Rabarivony suspended. The only goal of the game was a very fortunate one, Desio's long shot flying off the boot of Boris and looping slowly over a stranded Esteban. As has been his recent custom, Aragonés made early substitutions, bringing on Juan González for Iván Ania as early as the 30th minute, and replacing Losada with last week's goalscorer Rubén in the 54th. Iván Iglesias also came on for Eskurza just after the hour mark. Dely Valdés was his most effective striker, creating problems for the home defence, and he was unlucky to have a goal disallowed for offside in the second half. Alavés manager Mané took off his sole striker Kodro at half time, bringing on Nan Ribera in midfield, with Javi Moreno moving forward, and Morales came on for Begoña with a quarter of an hour to go. Alavés keeper Herrera kept yet another clean sheet, and is now joint top of the best goalkeepers table. Thanks in part to his efforts his team are now fifth, with Oviedo sliding back into the rop zone once again. Not a problem, they are at home again next week, this time to Betis. Maybe they should just play home matches and forfait the points away. The result would be the same, and at least they could get some rest!

Valladolid 0 - Valencia 0

Valladolid: César; Torres Gómez, Heinze, García Calvo, Peña, Marcos;Marquez, Jiménez, Caminero; Víctor, Shoji Jo. 5-3-2.
Valencia: Cañizares; Angloma, Djukic, Pellegrino, Carboni; Milla, Mendieta, Farinós, Kily González; Ilie, Piojo López. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valladolid: Marquez for Rodrigo / Valencia: Farinós, Piojo López for Gerard and Juan Sánchez.

Goals: None.

Valladolid and Valencia played out a dull goal-less draw, with defences dominating, despite the presence of capable strikers such as Víctor and Claudio López. El Piojo was returning to the Valencia starting line up after reconciling with his manager Héctor Cúper, and although he showed enthusiasm, he was not given the support he needed. The game ended for spectators just before half time, when referee Pérez Burrull sent off Valencia's captain Mendieta for a second yellow card. This was the first time that Mendieta had been sent off in his career, and his club are appealing against the second yellow, hoping to have him available for their next match against Real Madrid. After the sending off Valencia moved the wagons into a circle and waited for the indians to attack, with 'general Custer' Cañizares rallying the troops with his best display since returning from injury. Cañizares kept his side in the game with saves from Víctor, Shoji Jo and his eventual substitute Isailovic, and Spain's manager José Antonio Camacho must surely recall his number one keeper for their friendly against Croatia in a couple of weeks time. Valladolid were unlucky not to snatch a victory in the last minute, when the referee correctly ruled that another substitute, Alberto, was in an offside position when he put the ball into the net. Valencia drop down to eighth, and will probably be without their captain and also right back Angloma if their suspensions are confirmed, although Gerard will return from his one match suspension to fill in, and Angulo, second half substitute in this match, can cover for Angloma. Valladolid are now only two points away from the relegation places despite only losing one match out of the last eleven, and need a result in their Tuesday night game against Real Madrid (postponed from week 19) to move back to safety.