Real Madrid 3 - Sevilla 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Iván Campo, Hierro, Roberto Carlos; Geremi, Redondo, Iván Helguera, Guti; Raúl, Morientes. 4-4-2.
Sevilla: Olsen; Héctor, Marchena, Hibic, Tabaré; Quevedo, Angel; Jesuli, Tsartas,Juan Carlos; Olivera. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Guti for Anelka / Sevilla: Héctor, Tabaré, Juan Carlos for Prieto, Víctor, Zalayeta.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Raúl. On the second attempt after Olsen blocked shot from Geremi.
2-0. 28. Guti. Diving header from Roberto Carlos cross after pass by McManaman.
3-0. 32. Morientes. Coming in on far post after Roberto Carlos cross.
3-1. 92. Juan Carlos. Raced through on long pass to beat offside trap.

Real Madrid walked through this match against bottom club Sevilla, scoring three goals in a seventeen minute period early on to end the tie as a contest before half time. The match was overshadowed by another controversy surrounding Nicolas Anelka, who refused to train on Friday and who has been suspended by the club without pay pending an enquiry. Anelka has been hitting the press for all the wrong reasons, and this time he was reported as saying that he would gladly give back all the money he has earned to play for a quiet team in France. There is however the little problem of the 6,500 million Pesetas (including commissions) that Madrid paid Arsenal which the English club would probably not want to give back. As things stand right now Madrid don't need him, thanks to the good form of Raúl and Morientes and the plethora of youngsters who are filling in when they are not available. However the long season is taking its toll on the pair who are carrying all the weight in Anelka's absence, and Camacho is concerned that both will be exhausted when the Euro 2000 championship starts in June. Del Bosque decided to give the two Iváns, Campo and Helguera, a place in the starting line up after their good performance midweek, and brought back Guti after suspension to fill in for Anelka. However Helguera was injured in the tenth minute, McManaman coming on to the right wing, with Geremi moving inside. Sevilla had also had their problems midweek, with manager Marcos Alonso resigning after accusing the board of not being behind him. Stand-in president Roberto Ales (their president also resigned recently) claimed that this was not the case, but Alonso went anyway, with second coach Juan Carlos Alvarez taking over as caretaker (for the third time in his career) until the end of the season. He changed the formation to copy leaders Deportivo's 4-2-3-1 line up with Olivera up front, but little good it did as Real Madrid ran amok in the first half. At half time Alvarez replaced Tsartas (rumoured to have had a dressing room punch up with team mate Moya after the last match), and brought on Juric, who had not been given an opportunity by Alonso. Madrid slowed the game down thinking about their important match with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday, with Sanchis coming on for Geremi (his 700th game for his club) and youngster David Aganzo making his home debut in place of Morientes. Alvarez brought on forwards Víctor and Moya for Tabaré and Olivera, and got their just rewards at the end through top scorer Juan Carlos. Michel Salgado was injured near the end, and with all substitutions made, Madrid played the last five minutes with ten men. They move up level with Barcelona in second place, with Sevilla sinking ever closer to the second division. Madrid's Hierro picked up a yellow card which means he will miss next Saturday's derby with Atlético.

Racing Santander 1 - Zaragoza 2

Racing: Ceballos; Mellberg, Txema, Arzeno, Sietes; Espina, Colsa; Munitis, Vivar Dorado, Amavisca; Salva. 4-2-3-1.
Zaragoza: Laínez; Solano, Lanna, Sundgren, Vellisca; Helguera, Garitano, Acuña, Marcos Vales; Juanele, Milosevic. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Racing: Txema, Vivar Dorado for Tais, Manjarín / Zaragoza: Laínez, Helguera, Juanele for Juanmi, Aguado, Aragón.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Munitis. First time shot after Laínez punched out Espina free kick.
1-1. 81. Yordi. Controversial goal at second attempt with possible hand ball.
1-2. 91. Yordi. Headed down past keeper after cross from left.

Referee Prados García was the sad centre of attention in this match, his decisions and antics in the last fifteen minutes changing the course of the game and turning the match into a circus. With Racing leading through an early Munitis goal, Prados first sent off Espina, the Argentinian midfielder receiving a second yellow card for wasting time. Four minutes later Zaragoza's striker Yordi headed the ball in to the net on the second attempt after his first shot hit the post, seemingly controlling the ball first with his arm. Although the linesman put his flag up for a foul, Prados ruled that he had not handled it and awarded a goal (television pictures were unclear). Racing's keeper Ceballos was furious and charged up to the linesman to protest, earning himself a red card for his 'slightly violent approach'. The keeper turned to Prados to continue his protest, and the referee fell suddenly backwards to the ground, holding his nose as he hit the floor. To most commentators it appeared to be a scandalous dive, as Ceballos did not seem to touch the official. All hell broke loose as Ceballos went off and Benítez brought on reserve keeper Dani Roiz for Rushfeldt, himself a substitute earlier in the half for Salva. To make matters worse, Zaragoza took advantage of their numerical advantage to score in injury time, Yordi heading his second from a cross by Marcos Vales. In the end the referee, who dished out 13 cards in the game, had to be protected by police shields as he left the pitch. Ceballos was subsequently suspended by the disciplinary committee for 12 games, reduced to eight on appeal. Zaragoza move level with Barcelona and Real Madrid in joint third place. Racing drop down to 16th, and hope that Lemmens will recover from his injury in time to take over in goal next week. Prados was reported to be in tears during the week after the criticism he received. Maybe it will help him to learn to be a little less visible in future,.