Rayo Vallecano 2 - Deportivo 1

Rayo: Lopetegui, Mainz, Corino, De Quintana, Graff; Pablo Sanz, Helder; Glaucio (Roy 86'), Peragón (Alcázar 93'), Arteaga; Bolic (Bolo 88'). 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Nuno; Héctor, Donato, César (Emerson 80'), Romero; Duscher (Djalmina 61'), Sergio; Víctor, Valerón, Amavisca; Diego Tristán (Pandiani 60'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Rayo: Lopetegui, Mainz, Glaucio, Peragón, Bolic for Joseba Etxeberria, Cota, Roy, Michel, Bolo / Deportivo: César, Romero, Víctor for Helder, Capdevila, Scaloni.

Goals:
1-0. 47. Bolic. Shot low across Nuno from right of area after Glaucio through ball.
1-1. 65. Pandiani. Rifled shot past keeper after long low cross from Víctor.
2-1. 70. Glaucio. Beat keeper from left of area after Bolic slipped pass through.

Leaders Deportivo fell to their first league away defeat in six months, losing 2-1 against bottom club Rayo Vallecano. On paper this should have been an easy away win, especially as Rayo were weakened by injuries, with confirmation that Luis Cembranos will miss most of the season with ligament damage, Quevedo undergoing knee surgery and Michel joining the queue in the doctor's waiting room. However the Rayo replacements took their chances well, with youngster Diego Mainz making his debut at right back and Glaucio, Peragón and Bolic forming an efficient trio in attack.

Deportivo have their share of injuries as well, and Irureta was not able to make his usual round of changes. With Molina not yet fully fit, Nuno kept his place in Depor's goal, and he was called upon to save a couple of times from efforts by Corino and Arteaga early on. Tristán did get the ball in the net at the other end, but referee Medina Cantalejo ruled it out much to the disgust of the Depor manager. Then with the second half only a minute old Glaucio and Bolic combined for the Bosnian to shoot through Nuno's legs.

Rayo were getting the better of the Depor attack, with Helder closing out Valerón and Tristán looking tired. Irureta brought on Pandiani and then Djalminha, and Pandiani made it all square with a first time shot from Víctor's cross. But then a stray Djalminha back pass let in Glaucio for the winner with twenty minutes to go. Rayo should have made it three when Peragón bundled the ball over the net at the end of the game, but once again the referee incorrectly disallowed the goal for offside. With all the teams below them failing to win Depor stay top, although their lead is narrowed to one point. Rayo are still bottom thanks to Real Sociedad's victory, although they are a little closer to safety with this result.