Racing Santander 1 - Valladolid 1

Racing: Lemmens; Tais, Mellberg, Arzeno, Sietes; Espina (Colsa 46'), Vivar Dorado; Munitis, Bestchastnykh (Manjarín 63'), Amavisca (Rushfeldt 85'); Salva. 4-2-3-1.
Valladolid: César; Santamaría (Eusebio 46', Vizcaino 60'), Peña, Heinze; Torres Gómez, García Calvo, Marcos; Caminero (Márquez 40'), Alberto, Rodrigo; Víctor. 3-3-3-1.

Team changes: Racing: Tais for Neru / Valladolid: Peña, Torres Gómez, Rodrigo for Turiel, Márquez, Vizcaino.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Salva. Low shot from edge of area after pass from Munitis.
1-1. 82. Alberto. Quick pass from Víctor after Racing waiting to change player.

Racing Santander have a real problem holding on to the lead, and in the end it could cost them their place in the first division. They did it again this week, throwing away a one goal advantage near the end thanks to a lapse in concentration by their defence which allowed Valladolid to equalise. The goal came eight minutes from time, with Racing players appealing to the referee to stop the game due to the injury to Amavisca. However Ansuategui Roca allowed the visitors to continue, probably believing that the Racing forward was feigning to lose time, and Víctor took a quick free kick on the right, crossing the ball to Alberto who turned it into the net. Out of respect for his old team Alberto didn't celebrate (too much), but his goal gave Valladolid a point which keeps them in the race for a place in Europe this year. Just for the record Amavisca wasn't kidding: the veteran midfielder had to go off and will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury. Racing manager Gustavo Benítez only made one change from the team that drew at Betis last week, with Neru being left out of the squad after giving away a penalty last week and Washington Tais coming in at right back. Gregorio Manzano could count on three of his first choice players, Peña, Torres Gómez and Rodrigo, all of whom missed last week's match through suspension, but he decided to leave Shoji Jo on the sidelines another week as he considered it still too early to give him a game. He is expected to return next week however, after having had treatment from French specialist Doctor Saillent, the man who treated Michael Schumacher and who is now trying to save Ronaldo's career. Valladolid's formation was described as a 3-3-3-1 this week, although it didn't look very different from the 5-3-2 they have been playing most of the season. With Torres Gómez and Marcos, the outside players in the second group of three (wing backs to you and I), pushing down the flanks Valladolid took an early control. However it was the home side who took the lead against the run of play in a rapid breakaway, Munitis providing a defence splitting pass for Salva to run on and score past César. The young striker had not scored at home for some three months, but after finally getting back amongst the goals with his penalty at Betis last week, it appears that the curse has been broken. This was his 23rd league goal this season, and it takes him back up to joint top scorer, level with Hasselbaink and Catanha. After Lemmens had saved from Rodrigo, Racing tried to capitalise on their lead, with Amavisca and Bestchastwhateverhisnameis leading the attacks. Five minutes from the break Munitis beat a defender on the left wing and lobbed over César, his shot bouncing off the crossbar and falling to Salva who headed wide. In the second half Colsa came on for Espina and Manjarín replaced Bestchastwhatwashisnameagain as Racing pulled back to defend their lead. Manzano had had to replace the injured Caminero just before half time, and he brought on Eusebio after the break, although the veteran midfielder also had to leave the field a quarter of an hour later with a pulled muscle (the two apparently took advantage to join Amavisca and jump the queue at the pensions office). Munitis hit the post again, but other than that the visitors dominated, with Lemmens saving from Marcos and Víctor shooting wide before Alberto got his goal. The point keeps Valladolid in eleventh place, within two points of seventh placed Espanyol. Racing, who have the worst home record in the league, find themselves only three points away from the drop zone and must go to Real Madrid next weekend. If they lose that they will be struggling and must be another candidate for the drop.

Espanyol 3 - Betis 0

Espanyol: Cavallero; Cristóbal, Nando, Pochettino, Roger; Velamazán, Galca, Sergio (Navas 70'), Arteaga; Martín Posse (Manel 75'); Tamudo (Serrano 85'). 4-4-1-1.
Betis: Prats; Otero, Crosa, Vidakovic, Rivas; Ito (Gálvez 75'), Filipescu (Karhan 60'), Merino; Cuéllar (Denilson 55'), Oli, Alfonso. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Espanyol: Pochettino, Posse, Tamudo for Soldevilla, Navas, Serrano / Betis: Otero, Vidakovic, Rivas, Ito, Oli for Bornes, Cañas, Benjamín, Alexis, Denilson.

Goals:
1-0. 52. Tamudo. Headed Arteaga's cross after long pass from Velamazán.
2-0. 68. Nando. After Tamudo headed across Galca corner from right.
3-0. 91. Manel. Following cross from right by Serrano.

Betis dropped down to the relegation zone after losing heavily to Espanyol and could join their city rivals Sevilla in the second division next season. Guus Hiddink's team have now gone nine matches without a win, and the Dutch manager is already being talked of as the next one for the chop only weeks after taking over. He changed his back line for this match, bringing back Vidakovic and Otero after injury, and including youngster Rivas at left back. Denilson was left on the bench as Ito and Oli returned, at least making it quicker for him to write out his teamsheet. Espanyol are on a roll at the moment, and they have not lost at home since Paco Flores took over as caretaker manager in January (Flores was confirmed as manager for next season after the match). They turned out with the same starting line up as the side who drew at Real Madrid in the cup semi-final midweek, with Nando completing his 22nd match for the season to win himself a renewal of his contract under the terms agreed with the club. The veteran defender, who in his earlier career played at Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Madrid, celebrated in style, scoring his team's second goal in the middle of the second half after Tamudo headed back Galca's corner. Earlier in the half Tamudo had put Espanyol in front with another header, the under 21 international's tenth of the season, and Manel came on as substitute near the end to add a third goal. There was no indication that either team would score after the first half, with a packed midfield making it difficult for any creative play, and chances were few and far between (if not non-existent). Following the first goal Betis brought on Denilson and Karhan, and after Otero had hit the post with a centre-cum-shot, Cavallero saved twice in a minute from Oli and Alfonso. Nando however widened the gap, and Hiddink went for broke, adding Gálvez to the attack. However the two substitutes Serrano and Manel took advantage of the gaps that left, and after Manel had hit a post, the two combined for the killer punch. Espanyol are now mathematically safe, which was the first objective of Paco Flores, but with their closest rivals all beating each other, they now find themselves in seventh place and pushing for Europe, not to mention being close to winning a place in the cup final for the first time since 1957. In the post match interview Guus Hinddink was speaking in what sounded suspiciously like a Scottish accent, having spent seven hours with the president of Glasgow Celtic apparently discussing the different weather patterns between the south of Spain and central Scotland. Surely we were mistaken?