Albacete 1 - Real Murcia 0

Albacete: Almunia; Oscar Montiel, Pablo, Buades, Peña; Iván Díaz (Fabiano 37'), Viaud, David Sánchez (Álvaro Rubio 74'), Munteanu (Delporte 71'); Pacheco, Aranda. 4-4-2.
Real Murcia: Bonano; Valera, Cuadrado, Hurtado, Clavero; Jensen, Acciari (Gancedo 53'); Luis García, Richi, Michel (Sebas 43'); David Karanka (Juárez 73'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Albacete: Iván Díaz, David Sánchez for Parri, Álvaro Rubio / Murcia: Valera, Jensen, David Karanka for Juanma, Gancedo, Esnaider.

Goals:
1-0. 09. Cuadrado (own goal). Deflected wayward Pacheco shot into own net.

Albacete beat local rivals Real Murcia 1-0 in their relegation battle, their first victory in nine games, but it was still not enough to stop them from dropping down into the bottom three after Zaragoza's big win over Villarreal. The only goal of the game came in the eighth minute when Cuadrado turned Pacheco's off-target shot past his own keeper, and after that the locals sat back to defend their lead.

The visitors were unlucky not to equalise though after Richi's shot hit the post before the break, and Almunia saved well from David Karanka after the restart. John Toshack brought on new signing Cuqui Juárez with twenty minutes to go, and although Hurtado got himself sent off for holding back Aranda as he advanced on goal, Juárez almost saved a point when he headed against the post in the dying minutes, Luis García putting the follow up wide. Murcia ended the weekend firmly in bottom spot, now ten points adrift of safety, and Toshack will have his work cut out if he is to save them.