Valladolid 2 - Real Sociedad 1

Valladolid: César; Torres Gómez, García Calvo, Peña, Santamaría, Marcos; Caminero, Turiel, Rodrigo; Alberto, Víctor. 5-3-2.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; Corino, Gurrutxaga, Loren, Aranzábal; Fuentes; Sa Pinto, Khokhlov, Aranburu, De Pedro; Jankauskas. 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Valladolid: Turiel, Alberto for Vizcaino, Jiménez / Real: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 06. Sa Pinto. Looping shot from edge of area after a run
1-1. 62. Alberto. Controlled ball in area and shot
2-1. 66. García Calvo. Questionable goal after ball bounced off cross bar on to line.

A packed Zorrilla stadium saw their team Valladolid come back from behind to snatch victory against Real Sociedad and move to within two places of European football next year. This was their fourth victory in five games, although it was not without controversy as the winning goal was hotly disputed by the visitors, García Calvo's shot bouncing off the crossbar and appearing not to fully cross the line before spinning back into play. This was another of those moments that needed an action replay to be sure, and even on television afterwards opinions were divided. As it was, Llonch Andreu and his linesman were in no doubt, and the referee pointed to the centre circle despite the protests of the Real Sociedad players. Real had taken the lead as early as the sixth minute when Sa Pinto, sporting a new short haircut 'a la David Beckham', fired a long shot into the top corner of the net, also 'a la David Beckham'. Valladolid had started well, with their Alberto coming in to the side in attack and Rodrigo dropping back to cover the midfield spot left vacant by an injury to Jiménez. Rodrigo tested Real's keeper, also Alberto, early on, and his namesake should have done likewise after Víctor's cross set him up. Alberto (the Real one that is) was on fine form in goal, and he kept out efforts from Turiel, Rodrigo again and Víctor. Clemente brought on an extra defender López Rekarte for De Pedro early in the second half, a move which was protested by the Basque midfielder who has been substituted on a regular basis by his manager. Manzano also made a double change, bringing on Eusebio and Isailovic for Caminero and Turiel, and his substitution was the better of the two, with Eusebio in particular inspiring his team as they scored twice in five minutes to turn the game around. Firstly Alberto (the forward) got the better of Alberto (the goalkeeper) after controlling the ball in the area and rounding Gurrutxaga, and then came García Calvo's 'gol fantasma' after a long pass from Rodrigo. These were the first goals for both players this season. Clemente immediately reversed his previous substitution, taking off a defender Loren and putting on striker De Paula to join Jankauskas up front. Now it was the turn of the home team keeper to shine, César saving in particular from Sa Pinto ten minutes from time. De Paula went very close in injury time, his header rebounding off the crossbar, but they could do nothing about the result that sees them back down in 16th place, just two points above the drop zone. Valladolid are euphoric, and have the added good news (probably) that Shoji Jo's injury is not as bad as thought, and he could even return to the side in two or three weeks (see Chief's Notepad for more details).

Numancia 3 - Atlético de Madrid 0

Numancia: Nuñez; Jaume, Soria, Iván Rocha, Octavio; Nagore, Pacheta, Castaño, Iñaki; Chispa Delgado, Ojeda. 4-4-2.
Atlético: Molina; Aguilera, Ayala, Gamarra, Capdevila; Mena, Bjebl, Valerón, Solari; Kiko, Correa. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Numancia: Jaume, Iván Rocha, Iñaki, Delgado for Eleder, Muñiz, Rivera, Caco Moran / Atlético: Mena, Valerón, Correa for Gaspar, Hugo Leal, Hasselbaink.

Goals:
1-0. 11. Delgado. Header after free kick from Iñaki.
2-0. 56. Delgado. Another header from Iñaki's free kick.
3-0. 83. Barbu. First time shot after cross from right.

Atlético de Madrid sank further into the mire with a very poor performance against one of their direct rivals for relegation, their seventh match in a row without a win. Without Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who failed a late fitness test, they were never in danger of scoring except for on one occasion, when Hasselbaink's replacement Correa hit the crossbar in the first half. With Santi and Gaspar both missing in defence, Ayala kept his place and Antic brought in Mena as a makeshift right back, with Valerón returning in midfield after a one match suspension. Goiko was missing the suspended Muñiz in defence, but Iván Rocha came back to play against his old side, his first game in over a month having recovered from a knee injury. Jaume and Iñaki also returned after injuries, and Chispa Delgado got a rare start up front in place of Moran. The return of Iñaki was the key to the victory, and Delgado also took his opportunity to show his manager that his inclusion was merited. The pair combined to score two identical goals, one in each half, with the striker twice beating Molina with headers from Iñaki's free kicks. Iñaki also laid on the third goal for substitute Barbu, who came on for Delgado just after the hour mark. At half time Antic brought on Hugo Leal for Mena, and after the second goal he introduced Lardín for Solari and then Roberto for Bjebl. Ten minutes from the end things got even more complicated for the visitors when referee Japón Sevilla sent off Ayala after he picked up his second yellow card for a foul on Barbu. Numancia breathed a sigh of relief after the game as they moved for the time being at least further away from the danger zone to 14th place. The only blot on the game was the fighting in the crowd provoked by the Madrid side's more 'radical' supporters, the 'Frente Atlético', the second away match in a row that police were called upon to intervene. This small group are amongst the most violent supporters in the land, and one of their members is currently on trial following the fatal stabbing of a Real Sociedad supporter last season. Violence in Spain is virtually unheard of however, and these types of incidents are very isolated. Atlético Madrid's problems off the field continue, and the ongoing court case is taking its toll. With the team heading for relegation for only the second time in their history (they went down in 1930), players are receiving offers from all over, and they occupy a large part of our transfer rumours section. The legal administrator Luis Rubí has to report to the judge by this Friday, and they have to decide whether to continue with the administration or bring back the Gil family under the control of an 'interventor'. Rubí has apparently received an offer for the club from a US investment fund who want to turn things around with a view to eventually floating the club on the stock exchange. Their possible relegation to the second division may put a stop to this, although in a visionary move before all this happened, managing director Miguel Angel Gil Marín (son of Jesus Gil) took out insurance for 3,000 million Pesetas against their possible relegation. At the same time the court case against Jesus Gil and his colleagues began for the illegal misappropriation of funds from the Marbella local council. Gil is accused of using his influence as mayor of Marbella to sign lucrative publicity contracts with Atlético Madrid and other teams, thereby profiting himself through his ownership of the club, and the prosecution is asking for a 34 years prison sentence for the ex president. The walls are starting to close in on him, and even Houdini would have problems getting out if this one. Stick around for the next thrilling episode in seven days time.....