Atlético de Madrid 5 - Oviedo 0

Atlético: Molina; Gaspar, Chamot, Ayala, Capdevila; Bejbl, Njegus, Hugo Leal, Valerón; Correa, Hasselbaink. 4-4-2.
Oviedo: Esteban; Keita, Onopko, Boris; Danjou, Paulo Bento, Rabarivony; Iván Iglesias, Pompei, Losada; Dely Valdés. 3-3-3-1

The big news of the week was the sentence by judge García Castellón removing Atlético de Madrid president Jesus Gil and his entire board, and putting an embargo on the club's assets. The sentence makes strong reading. Gil is accused of several things, including illegally taking a majority share in the club, awarding himself and partner Enrique Cerezo 94.5% of the share capital without paying in any capital when the club was incorporated under the sporting companies act. Accounts were apparently falsified to show the club was solvent, which allowed them to remain in the first division, and also take advantage of government subsidies and tax relief, which ended up in the hands of management rather than the club. As a result of the club illegally staying in the top category (insolvent clubs should be relegated) they are also accused of negatively affecting several other clubs who were wrongly relegated or missed out on European competitions (32 clubs are named). Perhaps the most damning accusation however is that four players whose rights were owned by Gil's private company Promociones Futbolisticas, S.A. were transferred to Atlético de Madrid at exorbitant prices to pay off a debt which Gil had run up with the club of 2,700 million Pesetas. One of these, for example, Angolan refugee Bernado Djana is described as a construction worker who was transferred for 2 million Dollars. Another youngster, Maximillian Oliveira, was transferred for 1,100 million Pesetas when his rights already belonged to the club. In all the judge has accused Gil and his associates of expropriating 8,600 million Pesetas from the club. Luis Manuel Rubí Blanc has been named as legal administrator by the judge, and he will take over as president of the club. Jesus Gil denies any wrong doing, and has asked for his arguments to be heard, claiming that the whole thing is being orchestrated by his political enemies. We await his explanation.

On the footballing side his players responded to the best of their ability, thrashing Oviedo and dedicating their goals to their ex president, who was given permission to sit in the directors box. Ranieri made five changes, leaving out Gamarra and Baraja (injured), José Mari (sold to Milan for 3,000 million Pesetas), Aguilera and Solari. Njegus came into the starting line up for the first time since rejoining the squad. Luis Aragonés brought in Danjou and Iván Iglesias for Eskurza and Juan González. Within 9 minutes Atleti were two up, Valerón scoring from Njegus's cross, and then Ayala heading his first goal for the club from Correa's free kick. Hasselbaink added a third just before the break, and Correa picked up a long ball from Hugo Leal to score the fourth. Leal also provided the fifth for Hasselbaink in the 69th minute. Ranieri then brought on Kiko for Correa, and the whole crowd rose to applaud the local hero, returning to the Vicente Calderón stadium after a fourteen month injury which nearly ended his career. Atlético rise up to 15th, level on points with Málaga and Valladolid, with Oviedo, without an away win in 10 months, dropping alarmingly to 19th place.

Racing de Santander 2 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Racing: Ceballos; Mellberg, Arzeno, Sietes; Manjarín, Espina, Ismael, Amavisca; Vivar Dorado, Salva, Munitis. 3-4-3.
Athletic: Imanol Etxeberria; Larrazábal, Lacruz, Alkorta, Ferreira, Edu Alonso; Urrutia, Alkiza, Tiko; Joseba Etxeberria, Ezquerro. 5-3-2.

Referee Megía Dávila was once again the main protagonist of this match, sending off three players and showing a total of 13 cards. He also had a hand in three of the four goals, starting by awarding a penalty to Racing for a foul by Larrazábal on Salva, which Racing's top scorer transformed himself, his sixth penalty of the season. Earlier he had sent off Racing's keeper Ceballos for a foul on Ezquerro, substitute keeper Dani Roiz coming on for Sietes. He had no part however in Bilbao's equaliser four minutes later. That fell to the Racing defence, with a comedy of errors culminating in Roiz's clearance striking Arzeno (just back from suspension) and rebounding back into the net. Benítez brought on Neru for Manjarín at half time to shore up his defence. Fifteen minutes into the second half Megía sent off Urrutia for a second bookable offence, his second sending off of the season, and Luis Fernández brought on Julen Guerrero for Tiko, who had replaced the Bilbao captain in the starting line up. A minute later the home side were back in the lead, the referee missing a clear hand ball by Salva in the pass leading up to Amavisca's goal. Urzaiz came on for Bilbao, and six minutes from time Megía awarded an indirect free kick in the area for a supposed back pass by Mellberg, and Julen Guerrero scored. Lacruz was sent off five minutes into time added on, also for a second yellow card. Racing have now gone nine games without a victory, and manager Gustavo Benítez offered his resignation to the board for their consideration (as yet this has been rejected). Bilbao have gone eight games without a loss, and are tenth.