Mallorca 2 - Valladolid 1

Mallorca: Leo Franco; Campano, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler; Paunovic (Novo 67'), Engonga (Robles 65'), Marcos, Ibagaza; Eto'o, Luque (Paco Soler 88'). 4-4-2.
Valladolid: Ricardo; Torres Gómez, Peña (Oscar 78'), Gaspar, Marcos; Jesús, Mario (Ricchetti 85'); Fernando Sales (Chema 72'), Fernando, Luis García; Tote. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Mallorca: Campano for Olaizola / Valladolid: Jesús for Eusebio.

Goals:
0-1. 35. Fernando. Volleyed in off far post from edge of area.
1-1. 51. Ibagaza. Controlled ball and fired shot into roof of net.
2-1. 72. Luque. Ran ball into net from close up after Eto'o pass in from right.

Mallorca saved themselves from relegation after coming from behind to beat Valladolid 2-1, leaving Las Palmas and Tenerife down in the second division. Caretaker manager Tomeu Llompart stuck to the formation which drew at Real Madrid last week, with the only change being the introduction of Campano for the suspended Olaizola. His side needed a win to be sure of staying up, and they set off in a positive mood, creating several chances in the opening minutes. However they were unable to beat the on-form Ricardo, and when Luque did get free in front of goal his shot hit both posts before bouncing back out. There was some concern when Las Palmas scored at Real Sociedad, at which time Mallorca were technically in the bottom three, and things looked even grimmer when Fernando put the visitors ahead ten minutes before the interval.

Now it was serious as the Balearic side had not been able to come back from behind at home all season, and if they lost then a single point would be enough to take Las Palmas above them on head-to-head goal difference. Llompart was clearly unhappy, and his half time talk must have been something as his side came out inspired after the break, Ibagaza levelling the scores with his first goal of the season just six minutes after the restart. After that it could have gone either way, with Fernando Sales giving the home side a terrible fright when he shot wide with Leo Franco beaten. And then Eto'o found some space on the right and laid the ball across for Luque to find the back of the net, and as the fans celebrated news came in that Real Sociedad had equalised against Las Palmas. The game ended with the exhausted players stretched out on the pitch, and Luque was caught on camera in tears. It must have impressed Camacho at least; the following day he picked him for his World Cup squad.