Betis 0 - Atlético Madrid 2

Betis: Ricardo; Damià, Zamora, Melli, Fernando Vega; Arzu, Somoza (Rivera 71'); Edu, Sobis, Xisco (Caffa 83'); Pavone. 4-2-3-1.
Atlético: Leo Franco (Abbiati 86'); Antonio López, Eller, Pablo, Pernía; Maxi, Maniche, Raúl García, Reyes (Simao 62'); Agüero (Motta 70'), Diego Forlán. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Betis: Zamora, Melli, Xisco for Juanito, Lima, Caffa / Atlético: Antonio López, Eller, Diego Forlán for Valera, Zé Castro, Simao.

Goals:
0-1. 33. Forlán. Controlled cross from Agüero and fired low shot across Ricardo.
0-2. 93. Raúl García. Drove low shot wide of keeper after first attempt blocked.

Atlético Madrid are up to fourth after beating Betis 0-2, a result which cost the head of local coach Héctor Cúper who was fired shortly after the match ended. The visitors totally controlled the first half, Reyes hitting the bar with a free kick early on and and Agüero, Maniche and Forlán all shooting over the top. And with just over half an hour gone Forlán controlled a chipped pass from Agüero to beat Ricardo with a shot on the turn.

Leo Franco had to make a couple of important saves from Somoza and Sobis at the beginning of the second half, and Edu shot just wide. But Maxi and Raúl García both could have extended the lead, and with the game coming to an end Raúl García fired a low shot past the keeper with his left foot after his first try with his right was blocked to wrap things up. Cúper's era had ended after only a few months, and Paco Chaparro is the man who is promoted up the ranks to try and get the Andalusians out of the drop zone.