Numancia 0 - Mallorca 2

Numancia: Alvaro Nuñez; Iñaki, Antía, Soria, Octavio (Manel 70'); José Manuel, Nagore, Rosu, Pacheta; Ojeda, Rubén Navarro (, Iván Pérez 65'). 4-4-2.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler; Finidi (Novo 52'), Marcos, Ibagaza (Francisco Soler 70'), Carreras; Biagini, Luque (Siviero 58'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Numancia: Ojeda, Rubén Navarro for Jaume, Iván Pérez / Mallorca: Carreras, Biagini for Engonga, Eto'o.

Goals:
0-1. 66. Ibagaza. Ran on to bad back pass and placed ball past keeper.
0-2. 90. Carreras. Tucked ball home from close up after Novo centred from right.

Ten man Mallorca defeated Numancia with two second half goals to keep up their push for the Champions League places and leave their opponents down at the bottom of the table. With Engonga and Eto'o both suspended, Luis Aragonés brought in Carreras and gave Biagini his first start of the season. Ojeda returned from suspension for Numancia as García Remón put out an aggressive line up, trying to stop their recent bad run that has seen them dropping dangerously down the table.

As usual away from home, Mallorca let Numancia come at them, looking to get a goal on the breakaway. Their well ordered defence was always there when it mattered though, and the home side only created a couple of real chances, a shot from Ojeda that Leo Franco saved at point blank range and another from Pacheta which went wide. Ten minutes in to the second half referee Carmona Méndez sent off Fernando Niño for a second bookable offence, and Luis took off Finidi and then Luque, bringing on Novo and central defender Siviero. Numancia started to take more risks but they got caught on the hop, Ibagaza getting between two defenders to beat Nuñez with almost their first shot at goal.

And then in the last minute of the game a bad clearance by Nuñez was played back to Novo on the right, and his pass across the goalmouth was met by Carreras on the far post. It was the sucker punch and took Mallorca to within a point of fourth place Barcelona. Numancia go bottom, but are still only two points away from Real Sociedad, and with the Bermuda square out of the way (it was the triangle but Mallorca are just as difficult as Depor, Barça and Madrid) they can return to normality. It is going to be a hard struggle though to avoid relegation, and after four matches without a win they need a result in their relegation battle in San Sebastian next week. If they lose that one Soria can start planning for the second division next season.