Málaga 0 - Mallorca 0

Málaga: Contreras; Rojas, Larrainzar, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce; Ruano, Movilla, De los Santos, Rufete; Sandro; Luque. 4-4-1-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Siviero, Miguel Soler; Armando, Chichi Soler, Ibagaza, Lauren; Carlos, Diego Tristán. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Málaga: Ruano, De los Santos, Rufete, Luque for Bravo, Agostinho, Edgar, Darío Silva / Mallorca:Niño, Ibagaza, Lauren for Nadal, Engonga, Stankovic.

Goals: None.

Málaga lined up for this match with only one half-fit forward, Luque, and it was no surprise therefore that the game ended goal-less. Catanha was still serving the last of a three match suspension, Darío Silva was also suspended for this game, and Edgar is out for seven months with a serious knee injury from the last match. Málaga players showed their support for the Portuguese striker before the game displaying T-shirts reading 'Animo Edgar' in the centre of the pitch. Mallorca were without Nadal and Engonga, both suspended, and Stankovic, injured, but recovered Lauren in midfield after his suspension. Fernando Niño got a rare chance in defence, but the youngster was forced to leave the pitch before the half hour mark with an ankle injury which will keep him out of the match against Galatasaray, Carreras coming on in his place. The match was virtually without a shot at goal, with both keepers and their defences in command. Fernando Sanz in the Málaga defence has improved greatly since his move from Real Madrid, the club presided by his father, and his good performances has got him noticed by Tottenham amongst others. Peiró brought on Genilson and Musampa in the second half, two players who have had little opportunity this season, and gave young striker Burrezo a run out for the last five minutes. Eto'o came on for Mallorca for Carlos in the second half. The teams stay a point apart in the middle of the table, with Mallorca 8th and Málaga 11th. Referee García Aranda, Spain's choice for the Euro 2000 championships, once again showed up his colleagues with a discrete performance without having to show any cards at all. Up to a point a reflection on how boring this match was, but still an example which Prados García and his more exuberant companions could learn from.

Valladolid 1 - Atlético de Madrid 0

Valladolid: César; Torres Gómez, Turiel, Peña, Tena, Marcos; Vizcaino, Jiménez, Rodrigo; Víctor, Shoji Jo. 5-3-2.
Atlético: Molina; Aguilera, Ayala, Gamarra, Toni; Paunovic, Bjebl, Solari; Valerón; Kiko, Hasselbaink. 4-3-1-2.

Team changes: Valladolid: Turiel, Tena, Vizcaino for Heinze, Santamaria, Lozano / Atlético: Ayala, Toni, Solari for Santi, Capdevila, Baraja.

Goals:
1-0. 25. Javi Jiménez. From close range after long looping pass fell to him.

Valladolid recorded their third win in a row to move up to ninth in the league, just three points away from the UEFA spots. They beat a struggling Atlético side fighting to come to terms with the legal administration of their club and a recent change in manager, who are now dangerously close to being relegated to the second division. Valladolid manager Gregorio Manzano was missing Heinze, suspended for three matches, and Santamaria and Lozano, with Turiel coming in as a makeshift defender. Vizcaino came in with Caminero not fully fit, coming on for Rodrigo in the second half. Antic had problems in defence with Santi and Capdevila both out, and he brought back club captain Toni at left back for one of his first games this season. Javi Jiménez scored the only goal of the match in the first half after a mishit pass from Rodrigo fell to him close to goal. Aguilera was carried off five minutes from the interval with a back injury which left him motionless on the ground, and he was taken straight to the local hospital where doctors said that the injury was not as bad as it looked. He was replaced by Mena, who himself has recently returned from a long injury, and the Argentinian also ended the game on the doctor's table, but this time following a strange incident after the match when a young supporter fell on a staircase and clashed heads with the player. Valladolid's keeper César, already on Real Madrid's books for next season, kept out one and all, with outstanding saves from Hasselbaink and substitute Roberto near the end of the game. Roberto also hit the crossbar with a header earlier on. The result leaves Atlético third from bottom, and with the derby against Real Madrid due next Saturday, things are not getting easier. Meanwhile the legal administrator Luis Rubí has announced that the intervention will probably go on for three or four months yet. The club's finances are apparently sound, but there are still a few worms in the accounting records. Everyone is waiting for it to finish so that they can get back to work, although who will be in charge once it is all over has yet to be seen. Any future investor will not want a club in the second division. They have to get out of the relegation zone as soon as possible, but time is starting to run out.