Valencia 1 - Mallorca 0

Valencia: Cañizares; Anglomá, Djukic, Pellegrino, Carboni; Angulo, Farinós, Gerard, Kily González; Juan Sánchez, Ilie. 4-4-2.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Nadal, Siviero, Miguel Soler; Lauren, Chichi Soler, Engonga, Stankovic; Carlos, Diego Tristán. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valencia: Carboni, Farinós, Ilie for Fagiani, Oscar, Claudio López / Mallorca: Carlos for Eto'o.

Goals:
1-0. 49. Anglomá. Long run down right and powerful shot past Leo Franco.

Controversy surrounded this match, with Valencia insisting on playing on Saturday night despite the fact that Mallorca had played in Turkey in the UEFA cup less than 48 hours earlier. Mallorca appealed to the Spanish federation, but in view of the fact that Kily González was leaving on Sunday to join the Argentinian squad for the world cup qualifiers, they were overruled. As a result, Mallorca decided to break off relations with Valencia, their representatives opting to sit in the normal stand for the match rather than in the directors' box. With the two matches so close together, and the UEFA tie effectively lost after the 1-4 result in Mallorca, Fernando Vázquez only included five of his first choice players in the return leg in Turkey, with Leo Franco, Nadal and Siviero playing 90 minutes and Carlos and Diego Tristán sharing the striker role. Even so the trip was long and tiring, and despite lining up for this match with their first choice eleven, their performance was lethargic, and they hardly managed a shot at goal. To be fair Valencia too had played a European match midweek, their match with Manchester United on Tuesday night of much more importance than Mallorca's. They lined up with virtually the same side as the in the Champions League tie, the only change being Claudio López, who was suspended. His place was taken by Adrian Ilie, but only 25 minutes into the game the big striker had to leave the field with a muscle strain, Cúper asking defender Bjorklund to warm up. The crowd disagreed with the defensive move, and after receiving a monumental clamour against the change, Cúper rectified and brought on a forward, Oscar. Valencia dominated from start to finish but without Piojo they could not put the final touches to their moves. Time and time again they approached Leo Franco's goal, but the goal appeared to be charmed and the sides went in at the break still level. The onslaught continued in the second half, but it eventually took a defender to make the break through, Anglomá picking up a pass from Oscar and galloping down the right wing before shooting past Leo Franco. Mallorca still didn't react, and Djukic almost increased Valencia's lead with a back heel which Olaizola cleared off the line. In the last five minutes Mallorca finally snapped out of their catatonic state and attacked, but they shot high and wide. Valencia's victory keeps them in sixth place, still in line for a return to European competition next year. Mallorca were beaten, but then they had already lost before they stepped on to the pitch. Yes it was a harsh decision for them to play twice in three days, but they were not the first to do so (for example Real Madrid this season). A more positive attitude by management could have motivated the players more, but they chose to play the badly wronged victim. The result was another defeat, and Mallorca drop to the bottom half of the table. It will be an uphill struggle for them to get back in contention for a European place for next season, but maybe they don't want to. At least they will avoid this sort of problem. A pity.

Betis 0 - Celta Vigo 0

Betis: Prats; Crosa, Vidakovic, Filipescu, Luis Fernández; Merino, Karhan, Alexis; Gálvez, Alfonso, Denilson. 4-3-3.
Celta: Pinto; Velasco, Sergio, Cáceres, Djorovic, Juanfran; Belmadi, Giovanella; Karpin, Tomás; Hoogendorp. 5-4-1.

Team changes: Betis: Luis Fernández, Gálvez, Denilson for Bornes, Finidi, Oli / Celta: Juanfran, Sergio, Djorovic, Tomás, Hoogendorp for Vivas, Makelele, Mostovoi, Revivo, McCarthy.

Goals: None.

Betis struggled to draw against a Celta side missing nine of their first choice players, and are now fighting for survival in the lower reaches of the table. The recent managerial change, with Guus Hiddink taking over from Carlos Griguol, does not seem to have changed anything, and disappointed fans jeered their players at the end of this match. They have now gone six games without a win, and are within two points of the last three places. To add to his woes, Hiddink lost Nigerian star Finidi to an injury during the week, and he is not expected to be back for another three weeks. In his place Gálvez came in on the right wing, with Alfonso moving to centre forward and Oli returning to the bench. Víctor Fernández would have loved to have a player of Oli's characteristics on his bench. With Benni McCarthy on international duty, Turdó still out and Revivo failing a late fitness test, he was forced to play Hoogendorp at the striker position despite the fact that he had not fully recovered from flu. Young B team striker Mena took a seat on the subs bench alongside his colleagues Jonathan and keeper Roberto (Dutruel had lumbago), and he made his first team debut halfway through the second half as Hoogendorp tired. With a midfield missing Mostovoi, Celades and Makelele, all injured, and Gustavo López (and Vivas) banned for one match, the manager opted to change his formation and play his five fit defenders. Djorovic returned alongside Sergio and Cáceres in the centre of defence, flanked by full backs Velasco and Juanfran, both called up by Spain this week. The move enabled the pair to come forward down the wings, and an early cross by Juanfran was caught well by Prats with Hoogendorp closing in. Velasco was called upon to clear off the line from Alexis halfway through the half with Pinto beaten, and the visitors came forward quickly, Prats saving from Hoogendorp who found himself alone in front of the Betis keeper. Apart from a badly directed header by Denilson just before the interval and another from Crosa at the end, the only danger to Pinto's goal in the whole match came from his own defender Sergio, the keeper making a great save as the defender's miskick headed goalwards. Revivo made an appearance in the second half for Belmadi, and Benjamín came on for Gálvez, with Oli replacing Vidakovic near the end, too late for the striker to make a mark. The point leaves Celta in seventh place, two points behind Valencia who are occupying the last UEFA spot.