Valladolid: Jaime; Rukavina, Marc Valiente, Mitrovic, Peña; Larsson, Fausto Rossi (Jesús Rueda 70’), Víctor Pérez (Javi Baraja 88’), Oscar; Manucho (Jeffren 68’), Javi Guerra. 4-4-2.
Espanyol: Casilla; Raúl Rodríguez, Colotto, Héctor Moreno, Fuentes; Víctor Sánchez, David López; Pizzi, Alex Fernández (Córdoba 60’), Simao (Lanzarote 65’); Sergio García. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 20. Rukavina. Drilled shot back in to net after long throw-in came out to him.
Yellow cards: Pizzi 38’, 71’, Rossi 43’, Héctor Moreno 72’, Mitrovic 85’, Javi Guerra 86’ / red cards: Pizzi 71’.
Valladolid are just a point away from escaping the drop zone after they won 1-0 against Espanyol in the last match on Saturday evening. Having only picked up one point from their last five games, the visitors themselves are not mathematically safe, and Sergio García and Pizzi brought early stops out of Jaime. Casilla had to be on his toes though to keep out a Manucho header at the other end, and with twenty minutes gone Rukavina opened the scoring with a low shot after Raúl Rodríguez headed clear a long Peña throw-in. Jaime was in action again to save from Sergio García, and Víctor Sánchez and Pizzi both fired long shots wide of the mark, but Manucho came close to a second when he headed past the post shortly before the break. Things slowed down though in the second half, and the Catalans were left with ten men when Pizzi picked up a second yellow card. Marc Valiente and Oscar could have added to the lead after that, but Valladolid had a vital win which keeps them in with a chance of survival.