Real Murcia 2 - Valladolid 1

Real Murcia: Sánchez Broto; Juanma, Cuadrado, Hurtado, Clavero; Acciari, Jensen (Maciel 84'); Luis García, Gancedo (Juárez 71'), Michel (Tato 56'); Richi. 4-2-3-1.
Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez, Jonathan, Julio César, Pablo Paz (Sousa 46'), Marcos (Oscar Sánchez 82'); Fernando Sales, Ricchetti, Caminero, Oscar González; Losada. 5-4-1.

Team changes: Murcia: Juanma, Jensen, Gancedo for Maciel, Azcarate, Juárez / Valladolid: Pablo Paz for Chema.

Goals:
0-1. 30. Jonathan. Got behind defence to turn Ricchetti's free kick past Broto.
1-1. 32. Acciari. Header into top of net from Gancedo's corner.
2-1. 89. Luis García. Latched on to loose ball to fire shot through crowd of players.

Valladolid's season is going from bad to worse, and a 2-1 loss against bottom club Real Murcia left them just above the bottom three, only ahead of Espanyol thanks to a better goal difference. It was a bitter blow for caretaker manager Antonio Sánchez Santos, who had taken over from Fernando Vázquez midweek after he was fired, and although they have a slightly easier calendar than their immediate rivals, a run of seven games without a win means they must be one of the favourites to go down.

The locals had already confirmed their relegation the week before, and some of their fans, who turned up with posters saying "thank you for making us ashamed", turned their backs on the players as they came out at the start. The team though soon forgot the protests, and visiting keeper Bizzarri was in action twice following Michel free kicks, the first direct and the second from Acciari's header.

Pablo Paz had almost scored at the other end though from Ricchetti's free kick, and Jonathan did beat the keeper from another dead ball kick by the Argentine midfielder to open the scoring. The lead only lasted two minutes though before Acciari equalised, heading Gancedo's corner into the roof of the net.

The introduction of Sousa at half time improved things for the visitors, but they were unable to break down John Toshack's well ordered defence. And two minutes from the end disaster struck when a loose ball fell to Luis García for him to drive home the winning goal, giving Murcia only their fourth win of the season. Santos has to make his mark quickly if he is to save Valladolid from the drop.