Rayo Vallecano 1 - Viborg 0

Rayo: Keller; Alcázar, De Quintana, Ballesteros, Mingo; Michel, Quevedo (Iván Iglesias 70'), Poschner, Glaucio (Helder 53'); Bolic (Setvalls 88'), Bolo. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 17. Quevedo. Headed past keeper after dribble and pass from Bolic.

Rayo Vallecano let their opponents off the hook with a disappointing display on Thursday night, although the 1-0 result should by rights be enough to see them through to the next round. Things seemed to be going well when Quevedo opened the scoring early in the game with a diving header from Bolic's cross. However they were unable to add to their scoreline, despite attacking for most of the game. Michel, who had scored a hat-trick at the weekend, was off target this time, hitting the crossbar with a free kick ten minutes before half time and then seeing his penalty kick saved by the keeper late in the second half after Bolic had been fouled. Bolic himself was unlucky not to score a couple of times in the second half, his first effort being saved by Omyszko and the second hitting Pedersen on the hand without the Austrian referee Dietmar Drabek reacting. Then in the last minute a shot by Helder was tipped onto the post by the keeper.

It was not all Rayo though, and the Danish side had their moments, especially around half time when Keller, playing in the European matches in place of Lopetegui, was forced to turn two consecutive shots by Hamm around for corners. Shortly afterwards the referee sent off Rayo's Poschner for a tackle on a Viborg forward who was in a clear scoring position. It was the second time the German midfielder had been sent off in consecutive matches, having received his marching orders in the league a few days ago, and Juande Ramos replaced Glaucio with the more defensive Helder. Viborg did then get the ball in the net through Winther, but Drabek ruled the goal out for a dubious offside, the 7,500 crowd breathing an immense sigh of relief. In the end the one goal victory was not so bad though, and an away goal in Denmark in two weeks time will mean their opponents will have to get three, which on today's showing could be difficult. They may yet though live to regret that penalty miss.