Betis 1 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Betis: Prats; Crosa, Filipescu, Vidakovic, Luis Fernández; Finidi, Merino, Alexis, Denilson; Oli, Alfonso. 4-4-2.
Rayo: Lopetegui; Cota, Amaya, Hernández, Alcázar; Llorens, Poschner, Helder, Michel I; Luis Cembranos; Canabal. 4-4-1-1.

Team changes: Betis: Finidi, Oli for Romero, Cuéllar / Rayo: Lopetegui, Llorens for Keller, Ferrón.

Goals:
1-0. 42. Finidi. From close up after Alfonso chipped cross from left.
1-1. 75. Michel I. Shot from close range.

Betis and Rayo drew in a match which both needed to win to move to a safer position in the league. Rayo manager Juande Ramos, recently rumoured to be joining Betis's city rivals Sevilla for next season, was without his first choice keeper Keller, not fully recovered from a dislocated shoulder. Ex Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper Lopetegui came in for his first league match of the season. Guus Hiddink brought back Finidi George and Oli to the starting line up, and the Nigerian forward scored his team's only goal just before half time. Finidi has become a talisman for the Andalucian side, and up to this match his team has always won when he scores. He has also developed a habit of being photographed in a different hat after scoring, and the Betis crowd now turn up in a variety of headgear hoping that their hero will choose theirs for the photo (this time it was a green wide brimmed hat which went nicely with the shirt). Rayo's Spanish international midfielder Luis Cembranos injured himself in the first half, and he was replaced by Bolo at half time, the ex Bilbao striker returning himself from a six week long injury. Ramos also brought on Dave Van den Berg in the second half for Llorens as his team came out looking for the equaliser, and the Dutch midfielder went close before Michel finally scored (thereby ruining Finidi's record). In any case Hiddink had earlier taken off Oli and Finidi, replacing them with Gálvez and Romero, and he also brought on Benjamín for Alexis near the end. With the draw Rayo stay a point ahead of Betis on 35 points, momentarily stopping their slide down the table. Betis are in danger of joining their city rivals Sevilla in the drop zone, although Hiddink is fully expected to save them in the end. They are a historic club with a long tradition dating back to 1914, as demonstrated by the presentation of a medal by the granddaughter of founder Harry Jones to club president Ruiz de Lopera before the match, and they should be in the top flight. Nobody wants the Sevilla derby to be played in the second division next year. Only time will tell.

Numancia 1 - Oviedo 1

Numancia: Nuñez; Belsué, Soria, Muñiz, Octavio; Nagore, Pacheta, Castaño, Iñaki; Rivera, Ojeda. 4-4-2.
Oviedo: Esteban; Boris, Onopko, Keita; Losada, Iván Iglesias, Paulo Bento, Rabarivony; Pompei; Rubén, Dely Valdés. 3-4-1-2.

Team changes: Numancia: Muñiz, Rivera, Iñaki for Muñoz, Jaume, Rubén Navarro / Oviedo: Keita for Danjou.

Goals:
0-1. 05. Dely Valdés. Shot from left after pass from Rubén.
1-1. 81. Delgado. Header after lofted pass from Rivera.

Numancia and Oviedo did themselves no favour sharing the points in a game which both needed to win. Numancia at least stopped a run of three defeats on the trot after losing their undefeated home record two weeks ago, and are now in 14th place, just four points above Atlético in the first relegation spot. Oviedo stay next to bottom, and have gone over a year without an away victory. They were close this time however, holding on to the early lead given them by Dely Valdés right through until ten minutes from time, when substitute Chispa Delgado scored his first goal for his new club. The point was a reward for Goiko's bravery, bringing on Barbu for Belsué at half time to add another attacker to the side. Aragonés meanwhile had done the reverse, taking off one of his forwards Rubén to bring on Jaime with twenty minutes to go. Earlier he had brought on Iván Ania and Albert Nadj, the Serbian midfielder returning after a two month lay off at a time when his skills are sorely needed to try and save the team from relegation. Nadj's return coincides however with Onopko's three match disappearance, the Russian defender falling victim once again to the vagaries of the disciplinary committee who decided to suspend him for an off the ball incident against Real Madrid whilst choosing to ignore a similar incident involving Madrid's Fernando Redondo. Numancia meanwhile are hoping that the injury to their top scorer Rubén Navarro is short term, as they need a goalscorer to keep up the fight for survival. It is going to be a real dogfight in the last ten matches, and a couple of injuries or suspensions could make the difference between staying up and going down.