Alavés beat Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao for the first time in their history to move back up to fifth in the league. Roberto Rios put the visitors in the lead in the first half, but in the second half a free kick from Contra and a penalty from Javi Moreno turned the game around. Oviedo's unbeaten home record was in danger when they were losing 1-2 with a minute to go, Darío Silva and Bravo having scored for Málaga with Oli replying for the home side. However an Onopko header and a Tomic free kick gave them an injury time 3-2 victory. The other three games of the day ended in draws, with an early goal by Zaragoza's Jamelli cancelled out by a Luque strike for Mallorca in the second half. Real Sociedad and Las Palmas also ended 1-1, with a Jankauskas penalty cancelling out a Guayre goal a few minutes earlier, and Villarreal and Numancia ended score-less, giving the visitor's new manager García Remón his first point.

Defeats for the top two teams threw the second division wide open. Leaders Tenerife lost 0-2 to Extremadura, and Sevilla lost by the same score to Badajoz. With none of the next four teams winning, Albacete and Betis took advantage with victories to move up to third and fourth place respectively. (03.12.00)

Despite making six changes, Deportivo moved back to the top of the first division for the first time in nine weeks with a 0-2 victory against Espanyol. Fernando and Makaay got the goals early in the second half to take them two points above Valencia. Without their inspirational captain Mendieta the "Che's" could only draw 0-0 at Valladolid, and they are overtaken by Real Madrid, who recovered from their long haul flight to beat Osasuna 2-3 with an injury time goal from Helguera. Osasuna scored through Arpón and an Iván Campo own goal, and Madrid replied through Raúl and Morientes. The Osasuna keeper Nuno was sent off in the first half, but his substitute Sanzol saved Hierro's penalty kick. Barcelona too had a hard fought match, coming back from a Catanha first half hat trick to level at 3-3. Frank De Boer got the first without knowing much about it, and Kluivert added two after the break. Rayo Vallecano keep up their good form with a 4-1 victory over struggling Racing. The Santander side scored first through Jaime, but goals from Michel, Bolic, Mauro and a late Mellberg own goal put Goiko's job on the line. In the second division, Atlético Madrid manager Marcos Alonso saved his post for the time being with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Salamanca. (02.12.00)