Rayo Vallecano 1 - Racing Santander 2

Rayo: Keller; Cota, Clotet, Hernández, Alcázar; Pablo Sanz, Helder, Michel I, Llorens; Luis Cembranos; Michel II. 4-4-1-1.
Racing: Lemmens; Mellberg, Txema, Neru, Sietes; Ismael, Colsa, Amavisca; Vivar Dorado; Munitis, Rushfeldt. 4-3-1-2.

Team changes: Rayo: Llorens, Luis Cembranos, Michel II for Ferrón, Van den Bergh, Canabal / Racing: Txema, Ismael, Rushfeldt for Arzeno, Espina, Salva.

Goals:
1-0. 37. Michel I. Shot from edge of area after ball partly cleared by defence.
1-1. 40. Ismael. Spectacular volley after Rushfeldt headed back from right.
1-2. 88. Arzeno. Header close up from free kick on right.

Rayo Vallecano paid the price for their good cup run, their tired legs just not holding out to the end as they fell to a last minute goal for the second time in four days. Atlético Madrid had snatched victory away from them in the cup quarter final last Wednesday, and this time it was Racing's substitute Arzeno who did the dirty deed. His header from a training routine free kick by Amavisca earned his side three precious points to take them out of the relegation spots and up six places to twelfth. Rayo came in to the game with confidence after a good home run, with four wins and a draw in the last five, with Luis Cembranos and Llorens returning to the side and Keller finally being pronounced fit after recovering from a rib injury. Racing's manager Gustavo Benítez was concerned before the match that he would be without two of his key players, top goalscorer Salva and midfield general Espina, both suspended for one game. He didn't have to worry, as their two replacements Rushfeldt and Ismael combined for the latter to volley the ball into the back of the net shortly before half time. Juande Ramos brought on Van den Bergh, Canabal and then Ferrón for Clotet (who had an arm injury), Pablo Sanz and Alcázar, and Benítez brought on Arzeno for Vivar Dorado, ostensibly to strengthen the defence. After the winning goal the Racing players came on to the pitch, and after a verbal clash with a linesman, referee Fernández Marín sent off Vivar Dorado (well, he was already off, but the ref made doubly sure). Rayo's Alcázar also picked up his fifth yellow card and will miss the next match, and with Clotet also missing Ramos will have to reorganise his defence for the match against Espanyol. They drop to tenth, only four away from the UEFA spots but only six from the drop zone. After the game there were incidents between rival fans, with four Rayo supporters being arrested and one policeman seriously injured. Several incidents of this type have recently been reported around Spain, a worrying development in a country that has largely stayed free from football violence.

Málaga 3 - Numancia 1

Málaga: Contreras; Rojas, Larrainzar, Fernando Sanz, Bravo, Valcarce; De los Santos, Movilla; Edgar; Luque, Catanha. 5-2-1-2.
Numancia: Nuñez; Jaume, Muñiz, Soria, Muñoz; Nagore, Pacheta, Castaño, Rivera; Barbu, Ojeda. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Málaga: Bravo, Luque for Rufete, Agostinho / Numancia: Nuñez, Muñoz, Rivera for Urroz, Octavio, Iñaki.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Catanha. Headed goal from a corner.
1-1. 40. Rivera. Ball laid back from left goal line by Ojeda to goal area.
2-1. 73. De los Santos. Came from deep to head in substitute Sandro's free kick.
3-1. 75. Edgar. Following up after Luque's shot saved by Nuñez.

No problems with the crowds in this game, with over 400 fans from Soria travelling to the south of Spain a day early to take part in a giant 'paellada' with local supporters. The two groups, the 'Frente Bokerón' from Málaga and the 'Frente Rojillo' from Numancia have been organising reciprocal events for a couple of years now, and are setting an example for supporters in the rest of the country. There was not so much brotherly love on the pitch however, as the two sides played out an intense game with strong tackles all round. Málaga's good disciplinary record was spoiled by Ruano, who was sent off near the end by referee Ansuategui Roca for protesting after being given a yellow card. Ruano, who substituted Rojas in the 63rd minute, had only been on the pitch for twenty minutes, and his sending off may cost Málaga a place in UEFA as the Spanish fair play champions. The home side took the lead through Catanha, who ended a goal drought of five matches a bit too late to enter in Camacho's plans for the friendly against Croatia. The striker also had a goal disallowed for a hand ball near the end of the game. Rivera equalised after Barbu stepped over Ojeda's pulled back pass, the young forward's second goal in the first division coming five years after his first, playing for Real Madrid against Celta when he was only 16 years old. Then came two goals in three minutes to give Málaga their first win at home in three months. They move up to 13th, two points behind Numancia in 11th place, who will finally have Rubén Navarro back for their match next Saturday against Valencia. After the match Málaga fans stayed behind to applaud the Numancia faithful as they began their long journey home. At least someone is getting it right.

Oviedo 1 - Betis 1

Oviedo: Esteban; Boris, Onopko, Danjou; Eskurza, Paulo Bento, Iván Anía, Rabarivony; Pompei; Rubén, Dely Valdés. 3-4-1-2.
Betis: Prats; Crosa, Bornes, Vidakovic, Filipescu; Merino, Karhan, Ito; Alfonso, Oli, Denilson. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Oviedo: Eskurza, Rubén for Amieva, Losada / Betis: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 20. Alfonso. Shot below keeper following deep pass from Denilson.
1-1. 83. Rubén. From edge of area after square pass by Dely Valdés.

Oviedo's week was overshadowed by the tragic death of the wife of their Uruguayan player Mateo Corbo, killed in a car crash with the player himself at the wheel. Corbo came out of the accident virtually unscathed, but his brother-in-law was also seriously injured. Players stood in a circle with their arms around each others shoulders as a minute's silence was respected before the game. Oviedo's manager Luis Aragonés was without Amieva, who injured himself in training on Saturday, and decided to play Rubén in place of the off form Losada up front. With Finidi not yet fully fit after returning from Africa, Hiddink did not have to decide which of his five non-EU players to leave out of the starting line up. There had been speculation all week as to whether it would be Denilson, but in the end he played in an unchanged side. Hiddink must be grateful he did so, as the Brazilian unleashed a 40 metre pass from his own half to set up Alfonso for the first goal of the game. Prats kept out a string of attacks from the home side, and after referee Rodriguez Santiago disallowed a goal from Dely Valdés for a previous push on a defender, Prats was called upon to save a penalty from the same player after he had been brought down by Bornes. Aragonés made his usual early three changes, starting at half time with Juan González for Iván Ania, and then bringing on forwards Losada and Dubovsky for defenders Eskurza and Rabarivony. Hiddink took off Denilson in response, bringing on Luis Fernández (the player, not the Bilbao manager, stupid), and then replaced Karhan with Benjamín. Prats appeared to be unbeatable until Dely decided for once to pass rather than shoot, and Prats looked forlorn as he got a hand to Rubén's shot but could not stop it crossing the line. Gálvez came on for Betis near the end and could have won it, but Esteban finger-tipped his shot round the post. Betis slip to fourteenth and have a vital local derby at home to city rivals Sevilla next Sunday evening. Oviedo drop a place to nineteenth after Real Sociedad's win, but Aragonés is confident they can recover. Somebody has to go down though?