Alavés 0 - Zaragoza 2

Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Karmona, Téllez, Torres Mestre; Pablo, Desio; Magno, Astudillo, Ibon Begoña; Julio Salinas. 4-2-3-1.
Zaragoza: Juanmi; Sundgren, Paco, Aguado, Pablo; Vellisca, Aragón, Acuña, Juanele, Garitano; Milosevic. 4-5-1.

Team changes: Alavés: Magno, Salinas for Nan Ribera, Kodro / Zaragoza: Pablo, Aguado for Lanna, Jamelli.

Goals:
0-1. 81. Acuña. Low free kick which rebounded off post and went in off Herrera
0-2. 85. Acuña. Poked a shot past Herrera from inside area.

Alavés put up a brave performance against championship rivals Zaragoza before finally falling to two late goals by their Paraguayan midfielder Toro Acuña. The home side were forced to play with ten men after defender Téllez was sent off for a tackle from behind on Juanele in the nineteenth minute. It was a late tackle but Juanele made a meal of it, and perhaps another referee would have only produced the yellow. Not so Megía Dávila, who has shown almost twice as many reds as his nearest rival (16 with this one as against nine for the second highest). The sending off will mean that Mané will have to change a back four that was the best in the league before this match, a block that together with keeper Martín Herrera has played for most of the season. Mané only had to make one change for this game, Julio Salinas a surprise choice ahead of on-form Javi Moreno to replace the injured Kodro up front. Magno was preferred to Nan Ribera behind the sole striker. Zaragoza captain Xavi Aguado came back into the starting line up in place of the suspended Lanna for his 328th game for his side, a club record. Pablo joined him in defence after missing several games through injury (although he had to be replaced by Cuartero shortly before half time after suffering a relapse), with Vellisca moving forward to his more usual position in midfield. With the sending off of Téllez, Mané changed his tactics, bringing on an extra defender Eggen in place of Ibon Begoña. Zaragoza finally found a way through five minutes from half time, but Juanele's head bounced off the cross bar. Alavés counter-attacked, and Torres Mestre almost scored as his cross took a deflection off a defender. The second half opened with both teams hitting the woodwork, firstly with a Milosevic header for the visitors and then a shot by Contra for the home side. The game was left without Pablos as the Alavés version was substituted by Nan Ribera, and Mané later brought on secret weapon Javi Moreno for Magno. Rojo introduced Marcos Vales and Yordi for Aragón and Sundgren, and the two more attacking players transformed their attack. Even then Zaragoza were lucky to get the first goal, Acuña's free kick passing under the defensive wall, (possibly taking a slight deflection) hitting a post and entering the net off the back of Herrera's legs. The visitors' tails were up, and Acuña added to his tally after a one-two left him free on the right. Alavés claimed a penalty for a foul on Nan Ribera at the end, but Megía ignored their claims. The defeat leaves Alavés down in fifth place, out of the Champions League spots. Zaragoza move above them to third, their best position in the league at this stage of the championship since they finished second in 1974/5. They are now only three points behind the leaders, who they will play in Coruña in six weeks time, and they could be a dark horse for their first ever championship

Real Madrid 0 - Rayo Vallecano 0

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Iván Campo, Karanka, Roberto Carlos; McManaman, Iván Helguera, Redondo, Guti; Raúl, Zárate. 4-4-2.
Rayo: Lopetegui; Cota, Amaya, Hernández, Alcázar; Llorens, Poschner, Helder, Michel I; Bolo, Canabal. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Madrid: McManaman, Zárate for Sanchis, Morientes / Rayo: No change.

Goals: None.

Once again Real Madrid failed to show their championship form as the long season continues to take it's toll. Returning from a gruelling trip to the North of Norway on Wednesday night with another long injury list, they were forced to put together a makeshift side for their city derby match with Rayo Vallecano. This week they have lost Morientes, Sanchis and Hierro, all expected to be out for three or four weeks, with Savio not yet ready for first team football and Balic returning midweek, only to be injured again. The Anelka saga continues, and although the controversial young Frenchman is back in training, he is not expected to play for the time being. As a result, Raúl is carrying the weight of the team on his shoulders, and Zárate was drafted in from the B team to play alongside him, with Aganzo making an appearance in his place near the end. Iván Campo kept his place in defence after his good performance midweek, and Iván Helguera, celebrating his recall to the international squad, played in midfield alongside Redondo. McManaman also started for the second match in a row after playing 90 minutes against Rosenborg, with Geremi relegated to the subs bench. Juande Ramos decided to keep the same team who beat Valladolid last week, with Luis Cembranos returning from injury but not 100% fit, on the bench alongside Keller, Draper, Van Den Bergh, Ferrón et al. Rayo were not daunted by the array of stars before them, and were unlucky on several occasions not to score. Casillas was Madrid's best player on the night, blocking a strong shot by Llorens just before the break and saving at the feet of substitute Ferrón in the second half. Real replied with two shots by Roberto Carlos, one of which brushed the bar and the second being saved by Lopetegui. McManaman was having one of his best games since joining the side, particularly in the second half, and after forcing a good save from Lopetegui from a header, he set up first Zárate and then Raúl for attempts at goal. Raúl was however not having his best day, and without his silky skills his colleagues were unable to break down the Rayo defence. With Alavés losing, the point was enough to move Real Madrid up to fourth. However, they lost ground on the top three, all of whom won. Rayo are still only six points away from the European positions, and a good run could get them there. However they would be more than happy just to stay in the top flight for next season. Unless disaster strikes, they should be safe.