Deportivo La Coruña 1 - Atlético Madrid 0

Deportivo: Dudu Aouate; Barragán, Arbeloa, Lopo, Capdevila; Sergio (Verdú 46'), Coloccini (Duscher 60'), Juan Rodríguez; Arizmendi, Riki, Cristian (Felipe 69'). 4-3-3.
Atlético: Leo Franco; Valera, Perea (Jurado 86'), Pablo, Antonio López; Costinha (Pernía 72'); Galletti, Luccin, Maniche, Mista (Agüero 24'); Fernando Torres. 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Depor: Cristian for Felipe / Atlético: Valera, Costinha for Seitaridis, Petrov.

Goals:
1-0. 66. Arizmendi. Glancing header into far bottom corner from Verdú free kick.

Deportivo moved up to second spot pending Sunday's games with a 1-0 win over Atlético Madrid in a rainy La Coruña. The Galicians were lucky not to go behind in the first half though as their opponents dominated play, with Mista heading just wide, Dudu Aouate turning a long shot from Galletti for a corner and Maniche shooting just over.

With Maxi and Petrov both out for up to six months, Javier Aguirre had put out a new look formation, but his plans were scuppered once again by injury when Mista limped off. After that Depor got back in to the game, Riki testing Leo Franco with a long shot and Juan Rodríguez going close, although the best chance of the first half came when Aouate just managed to push a vicious free kick from Luccin against the post.

Atlético started the second half as they had the first, Aouate blocking a shot from Fernando Torres and Maniche also bringing a good save out of the keeper with a header. But on the hour mark Arizmendi got above the defence to head Verdú's free kick wide of Leo Franco for what was to be the only goal of the game.

Still the visitors could have equalised, in particular when Arbeloa blocked another effort from Fernando Torres on the line after Agüero headed a free kick back across goal. But Caparrós's side held on for their fourth straight home win, and they could even have extended their lead when Verdú had an injry time goal ruled out for a borderline offside.