Two big budget teams languishing at the bottom of the table met in Sevilla, with both Betis and Atlético de Madrid desperate for points. Despite losing heavily in the recent derby, Griguol kept Filipescu and Karhan in the middle of defence, bringing in Crosa at right back in place of the injured Otero. Ranieri kept Molina in goal, and introduced Solari in midfield in place of Valerón. In the end it was the home side who took all three points, running out 2-1 winners in a hard fought match also played in a heavy thuderstorm. It was Atletico who took the lead however when Solari beat the offside trap in the sixth minute, his low shot leaving keeper Prats stranded. Prats got his own back before half time when he became the first goalkeeper for nine years to score in the Spanish league (the last was Chilavert), his venomous free kick deflecting off Hasselbaink's heel in the defensive wall to leave his opposite number Molina stranded. He had already threatened to do so last week when his free kick hit a post, and with Griguol naming him as the penalty taker as well he should get a few more before the season is out. Ten minutes into the second half Finidi hit the winner from Denilson's pass, and even though Ranieri brought on Correa and Valerón for Solari and Leal, they could no nothing to turn the tide. Betis move up the table to 12th place, leaving Atleti anchored to the bottom on goal average. The Madrid side are already scouring the market with a view to bringing in new faces when places open again on 15th December, and names such as Mario Basler, Ayala and Simeone are being bandied about. It remains to be seen whether Ranieri is still in charge at that time.

Football is a topsy-turvy world, and whilst Betis were climbing back up the table after their derby loss midweek, their victorious city rivals Sevilla once again sunk back to the depths of the first division, losing 2-1 at Valladolid. Marcos Alonso surprised everyone leaving his Greek star Vassili Tsartas on the bench, reportedly due to off the field incidents. Jesuli replaced him in an otherwise unchanged side from the eleven who beat Betis midweek. Moya, who was sent off midweek for spitting at Bornes, was suspended for four matches and was replaced on the bench by Zalayeta. Valladolid's manager Manzano included Colombian international Congo in the starting line up alongside Víctor in attack, and brought back Chema in midfield in place of Vizcaino. Veteran Eusebio kept his place in midfield, but there was still no place for Caminero. The choice of Congo proved a good one, the striker opening his account in the Spanish league in the fourth minute after Víctor had dribbled past several defenders and laid the ball on for him to shoot past Valencia. Otero pulled one back in the 21st minute, also his first goal in the Spanish league, after a mistake by the Valladolid defence. It was Víctor who once again provided the winner, this time turning in a cross from the left halfway through the second half. With the game in the bag, Manzano took off Eusebio and put on Jesus Turiel, and when Sevilla's Marchena was sent off for a second yellow card ten minutes from time the game was over. Valladolid move up to tenth level on 11 points with Real Madrid and Athletic de Bilbao. Sevilla join Valencia, Mallorca and Atlético de Madrid at the bottom on seven points, although their superior goal average means they are in 17th place.