Betis 0 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Betis: Prats; Tais (Joao Tomas 35'), Rivas, Filipescu (Marcos Assunçao 65'), Luis Fernández; Fernando, Ito; Varela, Capi, Denilson; Alfonso. 4-2-3-1.
Rayo: Etxeberria; Mario, De Quintana, Mainz (Corino 75'), Graff; Onopko, Azkoitia; Julio Alvarez (Peragón 55'), Mora (Tal 55'), Michel; Bolic. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Betis: Tais, Rivas, Ito, Denilson for Juanito, Marcos Assunçao, Arzu, Joaquín / Rayo: Mora for Bolo.

Goals:
0-1. 16. Onopko. Glancing header from Michel free kick on right of midfield.

Rayo Vallecano recorded their second victory in a row, following up their victory the week before against Barcelona by beating Betis 0-1 to move away from the relegation spots. Home team manager Víctor Fernández was missing his young international winger Joaquín, suspended after being sent off the week before, and that gave a chance to Varela to play in his more favoured right flank. The under 21 international was involved right from the start, heading just over the bar and forcing Etxeberría to move quickly to cut out a tantalising cross. However their opponents took the lead somewhat against the run of play on the quarter hour mark, Onopko rising to head on Michel's free kick past Prats.

That took the wind out of their sails, and Betis only managed a weak shot from Capi before the break. Azkoitia came close to increasing the visitors' lead on two occasions after the restart, once getting between Prats and Filipescu to shoot over the bar and then hitting the outside of the post with a long shot. The Andalucians had a chance to draw level when Pino Zamorano awarded a penalty for a push by Onopko on Alfonso, but the veteran striker sent his kick against the right angle of post.

Then first half substitute Joao Tomas headed a Marcos Assunçao free kick into the net off the far post, only to see the referee rule it out for a borderline offside. In the dying minutes Rivas crashed a shot against the bar as Betis came desperately forward for the equaliser, but luck was against them and Rayo held on for their first victory in the Ruiz de Lopera stadium in 22 years. The defeat rounded off a bad week for Víctor Fernández's side after they were knocked out of the UEFA cup midweek, and they ended the weekend out of the Champions League spots, in fifth place.