Mallorca 0 - Valladolid 0

Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Nadal, Niño, David; Lauren, Engonga, Chichi Soler, Carreras; Carlos, Tristán. 4-4-2.
Valladolid: César; Torres Gómez, Santamaría, García Calvo, Peña, Marcos; Chema, Caminero, Jiménez; Alberto, Rodrigo. 5-3-2.

One of the smallest crowds of the season (around 10,000) watched this boring match between Mallorca and Valladolid, with many fans deciding (correctly as it happened) to watch the three kings parade rather than attend the match. The game was played on the eve of 'Reyes Magos', the day that Spaniards traditionally give presents to their children (toys are given by the three kings in Spain, not Father Christmas). However the two defences were not in a generous mood, and forwards went away empty handed as keepers Leo Franco and César kept their sheets clean once again. There was hope of goals before the match, with the Mallorca defence weakened by the absence of Siviero, who was in Argentina processing his dual nationality (he now has a Spanish/EU passport) and Miguel Soler, injured again. Valladolid were without Vizcaino, hospitalised with stomach problems, but had Marcos back in defence. The match lacked a spark however, and without play maker Stankovic (still injured) in Mallorca and forwards Víctor (injured), Peternac (off form) and Congo (missing) in the visitors, nobody made any inroads. Valladolid's new signing, Javi Jiménez, was sent off by referee Llonch Andreu for a second bookable offence in the last minute. As with almost all grounds, a minutes silence was observed for the passing away of the mother of the king of Spain, Doña Maria de las Mercedes de Borbón. It could have been ninety minutes as, with nothing to shout about, the crowd remained silent for the whole match. Both teams pick up a point however, which takes Mallorca up to sixth place, level on points with Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, Alavés and Rayo Vallecano. Valladolid extend their undefeated run to six matches, the start of which coinciding with an ultimatum to manager Gregorio Manzano, but they are still only in 16th place a point ahead of the relegation zone. They must hope now that the return of Víctor, and the incorporation of Japanese world cup star Shoji Jo, can take them clear of trouble.

Athletic Bilbao 2 - Espanyol 1

Athletic: Imanol Etxeberria; Larrazábal, Carlos García, Ferreira, Larrainzar; Felipe, Alkiza; Joseba Etxeberria, Guerrero, Ezquerro; Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Mora; Cristóbal, Nando, Lopo, Sergio; De Lucas, Galca, Roger, Arteaga; Serrano, Tamudo. 4-4-2.

On a pitch covered in sand to absorb the famous San Mames mud, Athletic Bilbao kept up their run of nine matches without defeat, coming back from behind to beat Espanyol and to move up to within one place of the UEFA spots. Luis Fernández played a more attacking line up, with Urzaiz coming in from the start up front supported by Etxeberria, Guerrero and Ezquerro. Changes were needed in the defence, with Lacruz, Alkorta and Urrutia all suspended after their last match, and Carlos García and Larrainzar played in a back four with Larrazábal and Ferreira. Brindisi brought in Sergio in place of Navas, a last minute victim of flu, replaced the suspended Velamazán with De Lucas, and gave an opportunity to Serrano, scorer of two goals in the last match, in place of Benítez in attack. In all 21 Spaniards took the field at the start of this match, a curiosity given the plethora of foreign players in the league at the moment. Brindisi's faith in Serrano proved sound, the young striker giving his team the lead from a possible offside position after taking a return pass from De Lucas in the 37th minute. It looked for a moment as if Espanyol were going to carry on their run of five matches without defeat in San Mames, but the 'lions' of Bilbao reacted quickly, coming forward straight from the kick off to score, catching the visitors still celebrating their goal. The ball reached Larrainzar wide on the wing, and the full back took advantage of a gap in the defence to run forward and shoot past the surprised Mora, his first goal in three years. Ten minutes after the break the home side took the lead from a penalty after Nando handled unnecessarily in the area, the other full back Larrazábal converting the kick. Brindisi brought on three South Americans, Rotchen, Posse and Benítez for Galca, Roger and Serrano, but the best chances fell to the home side, with Mora stopping shots from Urzaiz and substitute Imaz. Referee Prados García sent off Espanyol's Sergio ten minutes from time for a hard tackle on Larrainzar.