Valladolid 1 - Alavés 1

Valladolid: César; Torres Gómez, Santamaría, García Calvo, Peña, Marcos; Vizcaino, Turiel, Lozano; Peternac, Rodrigo. 5-3-2.
Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Téllez, Karmona, Berruet, Torres Mestre; Morales, Nan Ribera, Pablo; Gañan, Kodro. 5-3-2.

Alavés are another surprise team in this league, and they have quietly crept up to fifth place with their effective if unspectacular play. Téllez returned from another suspension in the heart of a five man defence, and Gañan joined Kodro up front. Valladolid manager Gregorio Manzano was without injured star striker Víctor, bringing in Peternac in his place. Eusebio had recovered from a recent injury but was left in reserve, together with new signing from Getafe, midfielder Javi Jiménez. The visitors opened the scoring in the 21st minute, Romanian full back Contra dribbling past two defenders and unleashing an unstoppable shot which left César clutching at air. It looked as if the game was over just before half time when the home side were reduced to ten men, Colombia's Harold Lozano being sent off once again, this time for insulting referee Carmona Méndez (sometimes it is a disadvantage to be a native Spanish speaker - an insult in for example Romanian would be much harder to pick up). However Manzano threw caution to the winds, bringing on Caminero at half time and Alberto for the off form Peternac a few minutes later, and they got their reward in the 68th minute when Rodrigo struck a majestic free kick over the defensive wall and past a surprised Herrera. Six minutes from time Valladolid's García Calvo's effort hit the post with Herrera beaten, but in the end the points were shared, leaving Valladolid in next to bottom position, but equal on points with Oviedo, Málaga and Atlético Madrid. Alavés go from strength to strength, and they have the chance to pit their wits next Tuesday at home against a recovering Real Madrid.

Valencia 3 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Valencia: Palop; Angloma, Djukic, Pellegrino, Björklund; Albelda, Farinós, Mendieta, Kily González; Oscar; Juan Sánchez. 4-4-1-1.
Rayo: Keller; Estíbariz, Cota, Hernández, Alcázar; Helder, Michel I; Ferrón, Llorens; Cembranos; Bolo. 4-2-3-1.

Valencia kept up their vertiginous run up the table with a victory over this year's surprise team Rayo Vallecano, despite being without the suspended Carboni, Gerard and Piojo López, and the injured Angulo, Milla and Ilie. Cúper played a makeshift team, with Kily and Albelda returning in midfield and Juan Sánchez alone up front, supported by Oscar. Palop returned in goal, with Cañizares returning to the bench after a disastrous return in the cup midweek. Rayo were unchanged. In the absence of Piojo, Sánchez took the opportunity to shine, scoring two of his team's three goals. The first came early in the game, with Farinós providing a defence splitting pass which the Valencia striker turned past Keller. Shortly before half time Albelda was carried off with a broken leg after a strong tackle from Llorens, adding to Cúper's woes. Fagiani replaced him. Canabal came on for Rayo early in the second half for Ferrón, and Cúper brought on new signing Gerardo for his debut. The introduction of the Canabal galvanised Rayo, and six minutes later they were level, Luis Cembranos picking up a back pass from the striker to shoot past Palop. Cúper in turn played his wild card, bringing on Vlaovic for Oscar, and although the Croatian's cross in the 81st minute was missed by everyone, Mendieta turned it back for Sánchez to head his second. Mendieta added the third in injury time from a house special free kick from the edge of the area, bending the ball round the defensive wall and past Keller. Valencia are now only a point behind Rayo in seventh place, a remarkable recovery given they were bottom only a few weeks ago.