Sevilla 1 - Numancia 0

Sevilla: Notario; Sergio Ramos, Javi Navarro, Aitor Ocio, David; Jordi (Antoñito 46'), Renato; Fernando Sales (Daniel Alves 62'), Jesús Navas, Adriano; Aranda (Carlitos 57'). 4-2-3-1.
Numancia: Juanma; Pignol, Palacios, Antonio, Tarantino; Velasco (Ros 56'), Pablo Sanz, Juan Carlos Moreno, Juanlu; Pineda (Miguel 76'), Pulpo González (Tevenet 76'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Sevilla: Renato, Jesús Navas, Aranda for Martí, Baptista, Makukula / Numancia: Palacios, Antonio, Velasco, Juan Carlos Moreno, Pineda for Juanpa, Otxoa, Tevenet, Miguel Pérez, Carlos Merino.

Goals:
1-0. 68. Adriano. Fired ball back in to net after Renato cross headed away.

Sevilla moved back up to the UEFA cup spots, level on points with the two teams above them Betis and Espanyol, after a 1-0 victory over bottom club Numancia. It proved to be harder work than they thought in the end though, and the victory was in doubt right until the last minute when Notario almost dropped a long free kick from Juan Carlos Moreno in to his own net. The match was preceded by controversy surrounding Javi Navarro after the disciplinary committee put off a decision to sanction him after the horrendous clash with Mallorca's Arango the week before, but the crowd showed their support for the defender with posters in his favour.

Aranda should have given the Andalusians an early lead though when he headed a cross from Jesús Navas wide, and after Navas himself had tested Juanma, Aranda saw another effort deflected on to the post by Pablo Sanz. The best chance though fell to the striker later in the first half after a brilliant run by Navas left the ball free at his feet, but with the keeper gone missing he shot at the only defender between him and the goal, Antonio, referee Losantos Omar turning down ppeals for a penalty both for a foul on Navas and a possible hands by Antonio.

The visitors had their first effort at the target when Juanlu shot wide soon after the break, but Sevilla finally got the goal they were looking for after Renato's cross was headed away by a defender only as far as Adriano, who crashed a shot back past the keeper without waiting for it to bounce. Despite Numancia's efforts it was enough to give his side the win they wanted, and they join the race for a place in the top six.