Valladolid 1 - Espanyol 0

Valladolid: César; Torres Gómez, Santamaría, Peña, Heinze, Marcos; Márquez (Caminero 46'), García Calvo, Rodrigo; Alberto (Shoji Jo 65'), Víctor. 5-3-2.
Espanyol: Mora; Cristóbal, Soldevilla, Pochettino, Roger; Velamazán, Galca, Sergio, Iván Díaz (Arteaga 64'); Manel (Tamudo 64'), Serrano (Navas 72'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valladolid: Márquez for Caminero / Espanyol: Mora, Soldevilla, Iván Díaz, Manel, Serrano for Cavallero, Nando, Arteaga, Posse, Tamudo.

Goals:
1-0. 89. Rodrigo (penalty). After Brazilian forward brought down by Pochettino.

Valladolid recorded a last minute victory against an Espanyol side who had their thoughts more on next Wednesday's cup semi-final than on this match. Espanyol manager Paco Flores made six changes to his regular line up, giving a first start to two players, Manel and youngster Iván Díaz. Mora took over in goal with Serrano at centre forward, as Arteaga, Tamudo and Martín Posse were all rested. Valladolid manager Gregorio Manzano was resting himself, handing over control to his number two José Moré as he stayed in bed with sciatica. Before he left he gave clear instructions to his understudy not to include Shoji Jo or Caminero in the starting eleven, but to bring them on in the second half. Caminero took a knock on his ankle last week, and Jo had been out for 40 days with a ligament injury which appeared to be more serious at the beginning. In fact it turned out to be an old injury to the cruciate ligament, and although the rupture had never healed, the muscles around his knee had developed to such an extent that they compensated the ligament problem. Having seen this problem before many years ago with another of their players, Luis Minguela, they were prepared to believe the reports of French specialist Doctor Saillent, and the Japanese international was allowed to return. Jo was as usual accompanied by his following of press reports from his own country, and the national television channel NHK broadcast the game live in Japan. Despite their weakened side, Espanyol started the stronger of the two, and Díaz and Serrano went close in the first few minutes. On the half hour mark a free kick from Galca appeared to cross the line before César palmed it away, but referee Bueno Grimal waved away Espanyol's claims for a goal. Moré obeyed his boss's instructions to the letter, and brought on Caminero after the break and Shoji Jo twenty minutes later. Paco Flores also introduced substitutes, bringing in Arteaga and Tamudo and then super-sub Navas having smelt blood. However Valladolid came back near the end, and just as the match was coming to an end Pochettino brought down Rodrigo in the penalty area, and the Brazilian forward stepped up to score his first goal for 13 games from the penalty spot. In the last few minutes Tamudo and Roger picked up yellow cards which means they will miss next weekend's league match with Real Madrid. Valladolid's victory takes them above Espanyol to seventh place, with their rivals slipping to tenth. Both are safe for next season and, depending on the midweek cup results, may have a shot at a third UEFA spot for the seventh placed team if Real Madrid or Barcelona (unlikely) win the cup. Espanyol would prefer to win the cup themselves and enter Europe that way though. After all, it is their centenary year.

Remaining matches: Valladolid: Alavés (A), Betis (H), Mallorca (H), Real Madrid (A)
Espanyol: Real Madrid (H), Numancia (A), Bilbao (H), Deportivo (A)

Athletic Bilbao 1 - Celta 0

Athletic:Lafuente; Larrainzar, Alkorta, Carlos García, Felipe; José Mari (Tiko 65'), Alkiza, Urrutia, Javi González (Urzaiz 72'); Joseba Etxeberria, Ezquerro (Imaz 90'). 4-4-2.
Celta: Pinto; Celades, Sergio, Cáceres, Velasco (Vivas 55'); Giovanella, Makelele; Karpin, Mostovoi, Revivo (Gustavo López 70'); Turdó (McCarthy 83'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Bilbao: Alkorta, José Mari, Javi González for Lacruz, Larrazábal, Guerrero / Celta: Celades, Giovanella, Revivo, Turdó for Djorovic, Juanfran, Gustavo López, Turdó.

Goals:
1-0. 87. Urzaiz. Blasted loose ball inside penalty area past Pinto.

Another team to win with a late goal were Athletic Bilbao, thanks to a high volley by Ismael Urzaiz three minutes from full time. A regular choice for Camacho in the Spanish international side, Luis Fernández has not had the same confidence in his striker, and after leaving him out of the squad completely last week, he started this match on the bench. This was in fact his eleventh appearance as substitute, and although happy at the club, he was considering offers from overseas (including Arsenal) before Bilbao announced that they will be changing the manager for next season. Another player out of favour with Luis is Julen Guerrero, and he was left out once again, although this time due to recurring problems with the lower calf muscle in his right leg. With Lacruz and Larrazábal suspended Alkorta returned to the defence, with Javi González coming in for his first start since September last year. Juanfran and Gustavo López both failed late fitness tests, so Víctor Fernández brought in the versatile Celades at right back, with Velasco switching to the left. After last week's failed experiment Sergio dropped back to the defence, with the team reverting the old 4-2-3-1 formation. Giovanella and Revivo came back into the side, with Turdó, now fit again, replacing Benni McCarthy up front. The young Argentinian was out of practise however, and he missed a chance from a header early on. Celta dominated the first few minutes, with Makelele missing their best chance in front of goal in the ninth minute. Bilbao gradually got back in the game, and they were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when referee Turienzo Alvarez ruled that Makelele's hand ball was outside of the area. They didn't give Pinto too much trouble however, with Ezquerro failing to get to the ball after the Celta keeper saved from González, and a free kick from Alkiza going just wide. Velasco had to leave the field ten minutes into the second half, Vivas replacing him, and Víctor brought on Gustavo López and then McCarthy near the end. Luis brought on Urzaiz, and the rest is history (well, from a few lines back at least). Turienzo, Basque born but refereeing under the Castilla-León flag, went a little over the top with the yellow cards, showing eleven in all, which means that Velasco, Mostovoi and Carlos García will all be taking forced leave next weekend. Athletic's win means that they are practically sure of first division football next season. They are 14th, two below Celta who have now dropped ten places in the league in recent weeks. Next week they are at home to leaders Deportivo in their local derby, and need to get their act together after seven matches in a row without a win. They would love to do so against their eternal rivals.

Remaining matches: Bilbao: Zaragoza (A), Racing (H), Espanyol (A), Alavés (H)
Celta: Deportivo (H), Málaga (A), Valencia (H), Barcelona (A)