Valladolid 1 - Zaragoza 1

Valladolid: César; Márquez, Turiel, Santamaría, Heinze, Marcos; García Calvo, Caminero, Vizcaino (Eusebio 46'); Alberto (Isailovic 73'), Víctor (Congo 83'). 5-3-2.
Zaragoza: Juanmi; Solana, Paco, Aguado, Lanna; Aragón, Acuña; Juanele (Helguera 80'), Marcos Vales, Garitano; Milosevic. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valladolid: Márquez, Turiel, Caminero, Vizcaino for Torres Gómez, Peña, Lozano, Rodrigo / Zaragoza: Solana, Lanna, Marcos Vales for Sundgren, Cuartero, Vellisca.

Goals:
0-1. 63. Marcos Vales. Headed over keeper from edge of area after Aragón cross.
1-1. 71. Víctor (penalty). Caminero dived alongside Paco and referee gave penalty.

Zaragoza lost a golden opportunity to move back to second place in the league after being held to a draw by Valladolid. The result was perhaps on the cards; the two teams have now drawn no less than twelve times in the last 20 years, and Zaragoza have not won in the Zorrilla stadium, new or old, since 1964. Both teams were missing several key players, with suspensions for Torres Gómez, Peña and Rodrigo for the home side and Sundgren and Cuartero for the visitors. Injuries to Pablo and Vellisca meant that Txetxu Rojo had to cobble together a new defence,with veteran Solana and Italy's Lanna returning. Valladolid were still missing Javi Jiménez and Shoji Jo, although the Japanese forward is likely to return soon after going against traditional medical advice and not having an operation on his broken cruciate ligament. Valladolid's answer was to turn to their veteran midfield trio, with Caminero playing the whole match and the other two, Vizcaino and Eusebio, playing a half each. Caminero played a vital, if somewhat controversial, part in the game, fooling referee Japón Sevilla on two occasions, firstly diving in the penalty area after going past Paco and winning a penalty (television cameras showed clearly that the Spanish international defender didn't touch him), and then collapsing to the ground in simulated agony when what looked like an accidental arm from Acuña caught him on the head. That provoked a red card for the Paraguayan midfielder, and signaled the end of Zaragoza's ambitions with a quarter of an hour to go. After a relatively boring first half, with honours shared between the two defences and both teams putting several chances wide, the visitors had taken the lead with a strong header from Marcos Vales after a corner by Aragón on the right. However Caminero's antics put them back in the game, and with Milosevic currently unable to find his way to goal the game drifted to a draw. Víctor was forced to leave the field with an injury near the end, and that gave Congo a few minutes to try and remember what it was like to play a football match. In the end both sides preserved their good recent runs, with Zaragoza now unbeaten for seven games and Valladolid only losing one in the last six. They drop a place to tenth, but are close to achieving their stated objective of 45 points to keep their place in the top category, and even have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe if any of the top six falter.

Real Madrid 1 - Celta Vigo 0

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado (Geremi 40'), Iván Campo, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; McManaman, Redondo, Guti (Balic 60'); Savio (Karembeu 83'); Raúl, Morientes. 4-4-2.
Celta: Pinto; Velasco, Sergio (Belmadi 80'), Cáceres, Djorovic, Juanfran; Karpin, Makelele, Gustavo López (Revivo 68'); Mostovoi; McCarthy (Turdó 60'). 5-3-1-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Morientes for Karanka / Celta: Velasco, Karpin, Mostovoi for Giovanella, Belmadi, Revivo.

Goals:
1-0. 68. Raúl. Softly hit free kick from edge of area around defensive wall.

For the umpteenth time in his short career, Raúl saved Real Madrid with a goal which was his 99th in Spanish league football. The 22 year old is already breaking the record books, and looks likely to be an all time great if he can keep up his current form. This time his goal from a softly hit free kick halfway through the second half was enough to give them the three points and keep them in the fight for the title. Celta missed their chances however, with Karpin setting the tone as early as the fourth minute as he shot wide when he should have found the target. The same player missed a similar chance twenty minutes later, and his Russian colleague Mostovoi could also have scored ten minutes from half time. The only chance from the home side in this time was spectacular overhead volley from Morientes which went just wide of the left post. Michel Salgado had to leave the pitch with a leg muscle injury just before half time, with Geremi replacing him at right back, and Del Bosque lost Guti as well before the hour mark with a knock on the knee. Both players are doubtful for the midweek cup match with Espanyol. Madrid were lucky not to fall behind, referee Fernández Marín waving away two claims for a penalty by Celta in three minutes, the first for a late tackle by Helguera on Gustavo López and the second after Roberto Carlos brought down Karpin. Five minutes later Madrid were in front thanks to Raúl, and Casillas did the rest, saving a Revivo free kick near the end. Víctor Fernández is sadly lacking a reliable striker, and although Turdó replaced Benni McCarthy half an hour from time, his first appearance for some weeks after an injury, neither of the two is ready yet to assume the mantle. Celta are currently lying seventh, and the difference between them and say Zaragoza is they don't have a Milosevic or even a Makaay to get them the odd point on occasions like this. To be fair they have also had their fair share of injuries, with Karpin and Mostovoi in and out of the side and others such as Juanfran and Turdó out for long periods. Fernández himself was in the news for this match, with Real Madrid reported to be interested in procuring his services for next season. Del Bosque has always been a caretaker manager, and unless he wins the Champions League this year (and even if he does - remember Juup Heynckes?) he will probably move back to the back office next season. The other news item was the return of prodigal son Nicolas Anelka to the squad after his very public disagreement with the club. Anelka didn't get on the pitch this time with Morientes back in the side after injury, but he may be given a run out in the cup midweek. The big question is whether his teammates will pass him the ball.