Rayo Vallecano 2 - Sevilla 1

Rayo: Imanol Etxeberria; Ferrón (Corino 83'), De Quintana, Mainz, Graff (Alcázar 89'); Quevedo, Pablo Sanz; Peragón, Baljic, Arteaga; Bolic (Glaucio 77'). 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Notario; Juanmi, Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David; Gallardo (Njegus 46'), Casquero, Francisco (Toedtli 78'), Luis Gil (Fredi 46'); Reyes, Moisés. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Rayo: Ferrón, Arteaga for Alcázar, Michel / Sevilla: Casquero for Víctor Sales.

Goals:
0-1. 03. Reyes. Ran through to hit low shot under Etxeberria.
1-1. 25. Quevedo. Header from corner which Alfaro helped into net.
2-1. 34. Bolic. Received short free kick and blasted ball wide of Notario.

Rayo Vallecano bounced back after their defeat at the hands of Zaragoza and a bad referee last week to beat Sevilla 2-1 and take a much needed three points. This time the refereeing decisions were more in favour of Gregorio Manzano's side, leading Sevilla manager Joaquín Caparrós to protest that they were the victims this time as the officials tried to make up for last week's errors. It was however a bad tempered game, with both managers getting their names in Pérez Pérez's little black book after a touchline argument following the throwing of objects (including a bathroom tap and water bottles) onto the pitch. Both sides ended the game with ten men, half time substitute Fredi getting a straight red card only twelve minutes after coming on for a kick from behind at Ferrón, and Baljic following him three minutes later after he picked up a second yellow card for a dive in the penalty area. Caparrós complained when Rayo were awarded a first half penalty for a foul by Javi Navarro on Peragón (although Peragón put his kick way over the bar), and then again when De Quintana was only given a yellow card when he caught Reyes in the face with his hand, the young striker needing four stitches in the resulting cut.

Back though to football, and the visitors took the lead as early as the third minute when Reyes ran on to a long ball from Casquero to drive the ball under the keeper, the Spanish under-19 international's eighth goal of the season. Sevilla are hoping to solve their financial problems in one swoop at the end of the season, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and others lining up to sign him. Rayo equalised though shortly after Peragón's penalty miss, Quevedo and Sevilla defender Juanmi both appearing to get their heads to Baljic's corner, Pablo Alfaro helping the ball into the net as it sped goalwards. Bolic put the home side in front a few minutes later, his fourth goal in consecutive matches, equalling the club record which is held by Mexico's Hugo Sánchez. There the football ended, although Sevilla thought themselves unlucky not to get a point as Reyes hit the bar with a long shot after the break and Alfaro headed against a post in the last minute. Rayo move up a place to eighteenth, and are now only three points behind Mallorca, but more importantly only six points away from eleventh placed Espanyol. Sevilla drop back a place, but they are safely up in ninth position, still only four points off the UEFA spots.