Valladolid 2 - Mallorca 0

Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez, García Calvo, Heinze, Marcos; Jesús, Fernando; Fernando Sales, Caminero (Ricchetti 90'), Antonio López (Chema 85'); Pachón (Kaviedes 70'). 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler; Marcos (Biagini 52'), Engonga; Novo, Ibagaza, Stankovic (Josemi 52'); Luque. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valladolid: Fernando for Eusebio / Mallorca: Fernando Niño, Novo, Stankovic for Siviero, Finidi, Eto'o.

Goals:
1-0. 22. Fernando. From close range after Fernando Sales laid back from right.
2-0. 36. Fernando (penalty). After Olaizola ruled to have fouled Pachón.

Valladolid kept up their unbeaten home record with a much needed win against a Mallorca side depleted by the absence of their African stars. Luis Aragonés's team were missing Finidi and Eto'o, both playing for their countries, and without their flair they were unable to break through a disciplined Valladolid defence, with Bizzarri improving in every game in the home side goal. The Argentinian keeper saved a penalty from Luque in the fifth minute after Heinze had bundled in to the young forward, by coincidence the second penalty Mallorca had missed against Valladolid this season after Ricardo saved Biagini's spot kick in the first match. After the penalty miss the home side dominated the match, with Pachón failing a handful of chances. With a quarter of an hour gone Caminero broke free and unselfishly laid the ball across for Fernando, deputising for the injured Eusebio, but the pass was just off and the chance was missed.

The on loan Real Madrid youngster didn't fail a second time though when Fernando Sales laid the ball on a plate for him in front of goal halfway through the first half, and they were unlucky not to go two up a few minutes later when a shot by Sales hit the post after bouncing off a defender, Pachón completely missing his kick as the rebound fell to him. Then with seven minutes to go to half time referee Prados García awarded a controversial second penalty, this time to the home side ruling that Pachón had been pushed by Olaizola when he fell in the area. Mallorca protested but Fernando stepped up to score his second penalty in two matches to take them into a two goal lead. Shortly after half time Aragonés made a double change bringing on Josemi together with Biagini, who was making his first appearance after a four month long injury, and within seconds the Argentinian put a shot over the bar.

Pachón's nightmare continued until Pancho Ferraro finally put him out of his misery replacing him with Kaviedes, and with ten minutes to go Prados García sent off Fernando Sales for a second bookable offence. In the last few minutes Mallorca took advantage of their numerical advantage to launch a series of attacks, and after Jesús cleared off the line from Josemi, Nadal finally got the ball in the net only to see the goal inexplicably ruled out by the referee. It was the last straw, and after that the visitors lost interest as the final minutes went by. The defeat leaves Mallorca four points adrift of the leading group, although they maintain their fifth place with the teams immediately below them failing to win. Valladolid move up to fourteenth, not altogether out of the danger zone but also only four points away from sixth placed Rayo Vallecano. Once again the league is very close, and a couple of victories or losses can change a team's position very quickly. Valladolid still have hopes of playing in Europe next season, but they would be happy with surviving in the top flight for another year. If their home form continues, they should have no problems achieving that at least.