Real Sociedad 5 - Rayo Vallecano 0

Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Kvarme, Jauregi, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso (Boris 65'), Aranburu; Karpin (Tayfun 73'), Nihat, De Pedro; Kovacevic (De Paula 81'). 4-2-3-1.
Rayo: Segura; Corino, De Quintana, Quevedo, Graff; Azkoitia (Pablo Sanz 85'), Iriney; Peragón, Luis Cembranos (Camuñas 61'), Michel; Bolo (Bolic 61'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Real: No change / Rayo: Corino, Iriney, Luis Cembranos for Mario, Helder, Julio Alvarez.

Goals:
1-0. 45. De Pedro (penalty). After Graff pushed over Kovacevic in the area.
2-0. 51. Karpin (penalty). Following trip by Quevedo on Kovacevic.
3-0. 59. Nihat. Ran on to Kovacevic through ball and turned shot under Segura.
4-0. 88. Nihat. Headed down past keeper on far post from Aranzábal cross.
5-0. 92. Tayfun. Turned ball in on far post after De Pedro low cross from left.

Real Sociedad over-ran a poor Rayo Vallecano side in the last match of the evening, recording a 5-0 scoreline which took them above Deportivo thanks to the higher number of goals scored, one point now behind leaders Real Madrid. B team manager Antonio Iriondo was in charge of the visitors for the first time after Gustavo Benítez was fired midweek, and his side held off the pressure for most of the first half. Real were well on top though, with Kovacevic having a goal disallowed for offside midway through the half and De Quintana clearing off the line from Nihat, and just before the break Kovacevic won a penalty under Graff's rough challenge which De Pedro converted to put his side in front.

Five minutes after the restart the Basque side were awarded another penalty, this time when Kovacevic was tripped by Quevedo, and De Pedro stood aside to let Karpin score from the spot. After that it was no contest, and Kovacevic set up Nihat for a third goal on the hour mark. Real relaxed after that and Westerveld had to be at his best to save from Bolic, but in the last three or four minutes they added two more with moves down the left wing, Nihat heading home Aranzábal's cross and then his Turkish compatriot Tayfun turning in a pinpoint centre from De Pedro. That last goal took Real second, and with nine points between the top three and fourth placed Celta a Champions League spot for next season looks almost certain. Rayo stay bottom of the table though, and Iriondo has some work to do if he is keep them in the top flight this year.