Betis 2 - Athletic de Bilbao 1

Betis: Prats; Otero, Rivas, Bornes, Filipescu; Benjamín, Merino, Ito, Luis Fernández; Denilson, Alfonso. 4-4-2.
Athletic: Lafuente; Larrazábal, Carlos García, Alkorta; Lacruz, Urrutia, Alkiza, Edu Alonso; Guerrero, Tiko; Urzaiz. 3-4-2-1.

Team changes: Rivas, Benjamín, Ito, Merino, Denilson for Vidakovic, Alexis, Karhan, Romero, Cuellar / Lafuente, Carlos García, Edu Alonso, Tiko for Imanol Etxeberria, Larrainzar, Felipe, Joseba Etxeberria.

Goals:
1-0. 04. Ito. Following up after Alfonso's shot blocked.
1-1. 60. Larrazábal (Pen). After Rivas handled and was sent off.
2-1. 70. Ito. Header following up after ball cleared off line.

A brace of goals from Ito, who had not scored all season, saved the head of his manager Timoteo Griguol, at least for the time being. With president Ruiz de Lopera already ordering new nameplates for the manager's office, Griguol made five changes to his side, with Denilson joining Alfonso up front with Finidi still on international duty in Africa with Nigeria. Luis Fernández was forced to leave out the Etxeberrias, Imanol and Joseba, both suffering from flu, and gave young keeper Lafuente his first game in the first division. After scoring early on Betis appeared to be in control, until Rivas brought off a spectacular one-handed save from Carlos García, tipping the ball on to the bar. Unfortunately Rivas is a full back, not the goalkeeper, and referee Turienzo Alvarez had nor choice but to produce a red card. Larrazábal scored his third penalty kick in a row, and it looked as if Luis Fernández was going to save his run of ten matches without defeat. However, with Lopera already calling the carpenter on his mobile phone, Benjamín s shot was scooped off the line by Carlos García, and Ito nipped in to head past Lafuente. Lopera hung up, and Griguol, who claims he has never been sacked in all his career, breathed a sigh of relief. So did his players, who had been concentrated in a hotel for the last week and who could now go home thanks to the win. Betis move up to mid-table, and Athletic drop down to sixth place. Alkorta was injured in the second half (he will be out for three weeks) and was replaced by Felipe, and Denilson picked up a fifth booking which means he misses the next match.

Real Madrid vs Mallorca

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Karembeu, Roberto Carlos; McManaman, Redondo, Helguera, Savio; Raúl, Morientes. 4-4-2.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Serrizuela, Niño, Nadal, Siviero, David; Novo, Ibagaza, Chichi Soler, Romerito; Carlos. 5-4-1.

Team changes: Karembeu, Helguera, McManaman for Julio César, Seedorf, Ognjenovic / Fernando Niño, Serrizuela, Ibagaza, Alvaro Novo, Romerito for Olaizola, Lauren, Engonga, Carreras, Tristán.

Goals:
0-1. 37. Romerito. Low diving header from Novo's cross.
1-1. 83. Raúl. Took short pass from Ognjenovic and dribbled round Leo Franco.
2-1. 90. Roberto Carlos. powerful shot from outside area.

Within two days of a gruelling return trip from the club world championship in Brazil, Madrid were back in action in the Spanish league. With three matches to catch up on the rest of the field, and Spanish cup and Champions League matches just around the corner, they now face a frightening schedule of matches over the next few weeks. They came up against a Mallorca side decimated by absences, with no less than twelve of the first team squad out. Biagini and Lauren were with their international sides Argentina (pre-Olympic tournament) and Cameroon (Africa cup) respectively, and injuries to Stankovic, Miguel Soler, Tristán, Djokaj and Quinteros were compounded by suspensions for Burgos, Engonga, Olaizola and Armando, with Carreras coming down with flu at the last minute. Fernándo Vázquez was forced to draft in three players from Mallorca B, two of whom, Novo and Romerito were in the starting line up, with Cordero coming on as substitute near the end. The youngsters took their opportunity well, the first goal coming after Novo rounded Roberto Carlos on the right wing to cross for Romerito to open the scoring with a diving header. Madrid replaced Karembeu at half time with one of their youngsters Meca, and fifteen minutes later Ognjenovic came on for a tired McManaman, with Mallorca replacing Carlos with a not fully fit Diego Tristán. . Referee Brito Arceo sent of Hierro two minutes later for a second bookable offence, and the home crowd started to boo their players, who they felt had not given their best in Brazil (despite not losing a match). It was up to Raúl to inspire his team once again, and after his goal he fought with Nadal to pick the ball out of the net. Then Roberto Carlos struck to break the hearts of the valiant Mallorca side. Madrid are back, and having been two points from the relegation area, they could go fourth if they win the two remaining games in hand. A crazy league.