Málaga 0 - Celta 1

Málaga: Contreras; Ruano (Sandro 60'), Larrainzar, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce; Rufete, Movilla, De los Santos, Musampa (Agostinho 60'); Darío Silva (Luque 75'), Catanha. 4-4-2.
Celta: Pinto; Coira, Sergio, Cáceres, Vivas; Giovanella, Celades; Gustavo López (Tomás 50'), Karpin (Mazinho 85'), Revivo (Turdó 65'); McCarthy. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Musampa for Rojas / Celta: Coira, Vivas for Juanfran, Makelele.

Goals:
0-1. 15. Gustavo López. Shot from 30 yards which took a deflection off defender.

Two of the teams who have registered for the Intertoto cup this summer met in the Rosaleda stadium this weekend. In view of the competition's tight timetable, with the first round matches played at the end of June, several clubs declined to take part this season. However, at the end of the day it is a back door into the UEFA cup, and with Celta missing out on the top spots this year, their management decided that they would go for it. Málaga are also keen to participate to round off one of their best seasons ever. Two places are available for Spanish teams finishing between seventh and twelfth in the league, with the lower ranked team entering the competition in the second round on the 1st of July, and the higher of the two coming in a round later on 15th July. Málaga's manager Joaquín Peiró, who has just signed a new contract with the club after turning down a big offer from Betis, picked his strongest side for this match, with Ruano dropping to right back to replace Rojas, and Musampa coming in to midfield after scoring twice in the last two games as substitute. Víctor Fernández was missing the injured Makelele, and Juanfran, who was suspended for two matches after punching Deportivo's Víctor in the face in the last match. With Celades filling the Frenchman's spot in midfield, Coira and Vivas were drafted in as full backs. On current form Málaga should have been favourites, being themselves undefeated for five games, wheras Celta had only picked up one point from their last five away matches. However it appeared that Celta wanted to win more than Málaga, some of whose players had complained before the game that they did not fancy the idea of a long season if they qualified for the Intertoto, and the visitors dominated for much of the match. In the end the game was decided by a single goal, Gustavo López's powerful shot on the quarter hour taking a wicked deflection off Larrainzar to deceive Contreras. However the result could have been much wider had McCarthy taken some of the chances that fell to him. Contreras dived at his feet to save from him in the seventh minute, and the South African put a good chance over the bar later in the half. Karpin was in great form in the centre of midfield, and the two combined without success on a number of occasions. Meanwhile the home side were not showing any enthusiasm, and the crowd started to get on their backs, accusing them of laziness and being only interested in money. Their only shot at goal in the first half was by central defender Fernando Sanz, which went just wide. Celta were forced to make two changes in the second half, with Gustavo López and Revivo both picking up injuries which may see them out to the end of the season. Peiró brought on Sandro and Agostinho in a double change, but with Catanha trying too hard in front of spies from several big clubs they could not break down Pinto's defence. In injury time McCarthy rounded off a rotten day when he got involved in a bust up with substitute Luque, and referee Mejuto González had no choice but to send them both off. Later in the week the disciplinary committee put the onus of the blame on Luque, suspending him for two matches and Benni for one. This was Celta's first win in Málaga since 1951 (although to put it in perspective they haven't played every year), and they hold on to eighth spot, level on points with seventh placed Mallorca. Málaga drop to eleventh, and if they don't improve they could miss out on the Intertoto. In any case, even if they do get in, they would have to play the second round at the beginning of July. Don't worry, for those of you who will be on holiday down there around that time, if that happens we will let you know dates and times as soon as they are available.

Remaining matches:
Málaga: Zaragoza (A), Racing (H)
Celta: Valencia (H), Barcelona (A)

Athletic Bilbao 2 - Racing Santander 2

Athletic:Lafuente; Lacruz, Alkorta, Oscar Vales, Larrazábal; Felipe (Sivori 77'), Imaz (Javi González 60'), Julen Guerrero, José Mari (Carlos García 80'); Joseba Etxeberria, Urzaiz. 4-4-2.
Racing: Lemmens; Mellberg, Txema, Arzeno, Sietes; Shustikov (Ismael 60'), Espina, Manjarín (Neru 91'); Vivar Dorado (Bestchastnykh 80'); Munitis, Salva. 4-3-1-2.

Team changes: Bilbao: Urzaiz for Ezquerro / Racing: Txema, Shustikov for Tais, Colsa.

Goals:
1-0. 10. Lacruz. Touched in after long free kick from Guerrero on left.
2-0. 30. Etxeberria. Headed in Larrazábal's cross from left.
2-1. 41. Espina. Square pass from Salva after passes by Munitis and Dorado.
2-2. 43. Salva (penalty). After Oscar Vales brought down Munitis.

Athletic and Racing played out a score draw in the San Mames stadium to leave the home side mathematically sure of first division football next season, and the visitors within a point of being so. With Ezquerro nursing an ankle injury, Bilbao manager Luis Fernández brought back centre forward Ismael Urzaiz for his first start in five games, and for once the line up included their three current Spanish internationals, with Guerrero and Joseba Etxeberria (just back from flu) also in the line up. With Alkiza undergoing an operation this week, the rest of the line up remained the same, a rare sight this season with Fernández an avid fan of the rotation system. B team forward David Karanka, the brother of Real Madrid's defender, got his first call up to the first team squad to make up the number of substitutes. Facing Urzaiz was the man pushing for his spot in the Spanish side, Salva. The league's top scorer. His manager Gustavo Benítez was forced to make two changes, with Tais and Colsa suspended for one match, and Txema and Shustikov came in. It was raining at the start of the match, but then it always is in Bilbao, and 25,000 web-footed fans turned up as usual. The rain must have softened the brains of the Racing defence as an unusual lack of concentration led to the first goal, everybody watching as Guerrero's free kick ran through to Lacruz, who only had to poke it over the line from point blank range in the tenth minute. Another play from the left twenty minutes later, which Etxeberria finished off with a fine header, gave the home side a two goal lead that they hadn't really deserved up to that point. Racing pushed forward, and after efforts by Munitis and Espina had gone begging, the Argentinian midfielder went one better, finishing off a move between Munitis, Vivar Dorado and Salva, who squared the ball across the area for him to score. Within two minutes the scores were level, referee Medina Catalejo awarding a penalty after Oscar Vales had brought down Munitis. Up stepped Salva in the stadium where the legendary Rafael 'Pichichi' Moreno had played his football, and this year's Pichichi made no mistake with his eleventh goal from the penalty spot this season and his 27th overall to take him three clear of his nearest rivals. In doing so he also equalled a club record, having scored in each of his last five games. In the second half the young striker should have increased his tally, missing relatively easy chances from passes by Munitis and substitute Bestfootforward. Bilbao came back at the end, with Guerrero and Urzaiz shooting just wide and Lemmens saving well from Lacruz, and in injury time Medina Cantalejo sent off Swedish fullback Mellberg for a second bookable offence, thereby ending his ever-present run this season. Bilbao stay at 13th with 46 points, with Racing two points below them on 44. Although they have two difficult matches before them, they should get the point they need to be safe, and even if they don't it would take an improbable combination of results for them to be relegated. Assuming they do stay up, their next problem will be holding on to Salva, Munitis, Mellberg and all for next season. All have received good offers, the first two from Deportivo and abroad, and the possibilty of playing Champions League next season may be too tempting. We shall keep you informed.

Remaining matches:
Bilbao: Espanyol (A), Alavés (H)
Racing: Deportivo (H), Málaga (A)