Real Sociedad 1 - Betis 0

Real Sociedad: Alberto; Corino, Gurrutxaga, Loren, Aranzábal; Fuentes; Sa Pinto, Khokhlov, Aranburu, De Pedro; Jankauskas. 4-1-4-1.
Betis: Prats; Crosa, Bornes, Vidakovic, Filipescu; Finidi, Merino, Karhan, Alexis; Oli, Alfonso. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Real: Fuentes, Jankauskas for Rekarte, De Paula / Betis: Bornes, Karhan for Luis Fernández, Denilson.

Goals:
1-0. 53. Jankauskas. Header from corner taken by De Pedro.

A poor game in San Sebastian, with Real Sociedad, the least worst of the two teams, taking the three points with a single second half goal from their Lithuanian striker Jankauskas, who returned to the side after a one match suspension. The player has now scored four goals in seven games since joining the club this winter, and his performances have transformed the team's fortunes. They have now recorded four straight home wins in a row at the Anoeta stadium, and they move above their rivals up to 15th place. Betis were without their Brazilian star Denilson, suffering from flu, and this left a spot for another non-EU player, Karhan coming back into the side in midfield. Both teams packed their defences from the start, with only Sa Pinto for Real and Alfonso for Betis creating any danger. On the half hour mark Khokhlov slipped his marker and set up Jankauskas in front of goal, but so surprised was he that he forgot to put the ball in the net. Betis had their first (and only) attempt at goal five minutes later, Oli's shot passing over the crossbar. De Pedro brought a good save out of Prats just before half time, and after the break Jankauskas showed that he is better with his head than his foot, beating the visiting keeper after De Pedro's corner. Hiddink made three changes in quick succession, but only changed like for like, with Gálvez, Luis Fernández and Benjamín replacing Finidi, Filipescu and Alexis respectively. Clemente changed his De's, taking off Peter (De Pedro) and putting on Paul (De Paulo). De Mary was nowhere to be seen. Betis drop back to within a point of the relegation spots, and Hiddink doesn't seem to be doing much better at the moment than his predecessor Griguol. There are still nine matches left however for them to improve.

Sevilla 4 - Numancia 0

Sevilla: Olsen; Héctor, Marchena, Hibic, Tabaré; Quevedo, Angel, Juric; Víctor; Juan Carlos, Zalayeta. 4-3-1-2.
Numancia: Nuñez; Eleder, Soria, Muñiz, Octavio; Nagore, Pacheta, Castaño, Rivera; Caco Moran, Ojeda. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Sevilla: Juric, Víctor, Zalayeta for Jesuli, Tsartas, Olivera / Numancia: Eleder, Caco Moran for Belsué, Iñaki.

Goals:
1-0. 35. Zalayeta. Header from Angel's free kick on right.
2-0. 71. Juric. Following switched pass from Jesuli.
3-0. 73. Jesuli. Taking pass from Tsartas and beating Nuñez.
4-0. 82. Quevedo. Took pass from Angel on far post and placed past keeper.

Following several weeks of appeals and delays, Sevilla were finally forced to play a home match in exile after a knife was thrown on the pitch during their derby match with Betis earlier in the season. After trying to convince the disciplinary committee that the Olympic stadium in Sevilla was actually over 50% outside of the municipality and therefore a valid venue, the committee finally told them to stop procrastinating and find somewhere else. The chosen site was the Chapín stadium in Jerez, some 80 kilometres from their home town, and due to the lateness in the decision only 7,000 spectators turned up. Their caretaker manager Juan Carlos Alvarez decided to leave his Greek star Tsartas on the bench, with Juric coming in for a rare appearance in midfield. Numancia manager Goikoetxea had problems putting together a side, with seven first team players injured including Belsué, Jaume, Iván Rocha, Iñaki, Jorge Pérez, Barbu and Rubén Navarro. Two youngsters, Alfonso and Bachi, were called up to the squad to make up numbers on the bench. Even so Numancia were the better side in the first half hour, with Olsen called upon to save early on. In the 34th minute things were to change after referee Puentes Leira sent off Numancia defender Muñiz for a second bookable offence, and Sevilla took the lead from the resulting free kick through Zalayeta. Tsartas came on for Víctor at half time, but Numancia still held their own until Jesuli entered the game in the 65th minute. The young midfielder set up Juric a few minutes later with a carefully weighted pass, and two minutes after scored himself from a pass by Tsartas. Numancia's resistance crumbled, and although Goiko brought on Delgado, Moreau and Raúl Muñoz, they could only watch as Quevedo added a fourth. Sevilla feel they still have a chance of survival after their fifth win of the season, and although still seven or eight points away from safety, a good run could save them (although this does not seem likely at the moment). Numancia are looking more and more like relegation candidates after only picking up one point in their last five matches, and their long injury list doesn't help. Their confidence has gone, and Goiko's miracle team now look vulnerable. It would be a pity to lose them from the top flight as they have won many friends, but as we said before, somebody has to go down. As things stand at the moment, even Málaga in eighth place are only five points ahead of 18th placed Oviedo, and only the bravest will survive (everybody sing...).