Oviedo 2 - Atlético Madrid 2

Oviedo: Esteban; Keita, Boris, Onopko; Eskurza (Danjou 70'), Paulo Bento, Nadj (Jaime 52', Fabio Pinto 80'), Rabarivony; Pompei, Dubovsky; Losada. 3-4-2-1.
Atlético: Molina;Gaspar (Valerón 28'), Ayala, Gamarra, Capdevila; Aguilera, Bjebl (Baraja 60'), Hugo Leal, Solari (Luque 46'); Kiko, Hasselbaink. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Oviedo: Eskurza, Dubovsky for Rubén, Dely Valdés / Atletico: Gaspar, Ayala, Bjebl, Hugo Leal for Pilipauskas, Santi, , Baraja, Valerón.

Goals:
1-0. 25. Losada. From close range after pass from Dubovsky on left.
2-0. 67. Paulo Bento (penalty). Following two footed tackle by Gamarra on Losada.
2-1. 72. Baraja. Headed down corner, and ball ricocheted off Dubovsky into net.
2-2. 77. Hasselbaink. Powerful header on far post after cross from Kiko on left.

After two years of struggling near to relegation, it has finally happened; Atlético Madrid will be playing their football in the second division next year. They needed a win against relegation contenders Oviedo to keep their hopes alive, but in a thrilling match in which they came back from two goals down, they just couldn't make it in the end. The season has not been kind to them, with everyone affected by the legal administration which was imposed upon them during the season. The return of the Gil family gave them some hope at the end, but it was realistically too late to save them by that time. Despite all the wrongdoings by the management, supporters have been unbelievably loyal to Jesus Gil, and many people put the blame for their relegation on the administrator. Personally I believe that there is no smoke without fire, and somebody was burning the books in there. The appointment of an administrator only happens when something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and Gil must share at least part of the blame for what has happened. Anyway back to the match, which was one of the most exciting of the season. Oviedo needed a result to keep them away from danger, and although they were gifted a win by Sevilla last week, a loss here could leave Atleti and Betis breathing down their necks. Their manager Luis Aragonés (recently linked with Zaragoza for next season), was without his two first choice forwards, Panama's Dely Valdés who was on international duty and Rubén, who picked up an ankle injury in training midweek. The versatile 'Chino' Losada, who played at right back last week, moved up to spearhead a spinning top formation (you know the shape), with Dubovsky coming in to support him alongside Pompei. With Santi suspended, Radomir Antic brought back Ayala to partner his fellow countryman Gamarra in the Atleti defence, with Gaspar returning at right back and Bjebl and the much loved Hugo Leal being preferred to Baraja and Valerón in midfield. Still in everyone's minda was the last match between these two sides, the day the judge walked in to the Madrid club, with Atlético winning by 5-0 and dedicating their triumph to Jesus Gil. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since them, much of which was sweat and tears, and the motivation that the players had then has largely dissipated. Losada repaid the faith of his manager by opening the scoring half way through the first half, after which Antic went for broke, replacing Ayala with midifelder Valerón, and bringing on B team forward Luque at half time. The ploy was risky however, and referee Prados García awarded a penalty to the home side after Gamarra brought down Losada with a crunching tackle. Paulo Bento duly obliged with the penalty kick, and Atlético appeared to be out of it. However they came back with two goals in five minutes, the first after Baraja headed a corner from the left towards goal, which entered the net after rebounding off a foot (it was unclear whether this belonged to Atlético's Capdevila or Oviedo's Dubovsky), and the second from Hasselbaink, his 24th of the season. Five minutes from time Hasselbaink had the opportunity to keep his team afloat when Prados García gave a controversial penalty after a tackle by Boris on the Dutch striker. The Oviedo crowd were incensed, but their keeper Esteban had the presence of mind to stand his ground, and then put up a hand to save Hasselbaink's shot as it headed goalwards. A last minute effort by Kiko went wide, and the Atlético players collapsed in tears. Mathematically they were down, for the first time since the 1933/4 season, when they were known as Atlético Aviación. After the match Gil said that Antic would have to go, but the wily Yugoslavian manager offered to manage the team for free next year if Gil would pay him a bonus and respect his contract the year after if they gained promotion. With an offer like that he couldn't refuse, and for now at least Antic will stay on. Several players are bound to leave, starting with Hasselbaink who has received fantastic offers from all over Europe (even Real Madrid are now interested). However if Atlético win the cup they will at least have a European interest and will be able to hang on to many of their stars. Oviedo are still fighting and are now three points above Betis. If the Sevilla based side continue their albeit brief revival, Oviedo are next in line, and their next two matches will be real nailbiters. I hope Aragonés has the fingernails to survive.

Remaining matches:
Oviedo: Rayo (A), Real Sociedad (H)
Atlético: Sevilla (H), Mallorca (A)

Sevilla 0 - Mallorca 4

Sevilla: Olsen; Héctor, Marchena, Quevedo, Nando; Jesuli (Angel 46'), Loren (Bakero 60'), Francisco, Juric; Olivera, Otero (Zalayeta 60'). 4-4-2.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Armando, Olaizola, Engonga (Paco Sanz 87'), Miguel Soler; Lauren, Chichi Soler, Stankovic; Ibagaza; Diego Tristán, Eto'o (Carlos 63'). 4-3-1-2.

Team changes: Sevilla: Jesuli for Juan Carlos / Mallorca: Armando for Serrizuela.

Goals:
0-1. 35. Tristán. Shot across keeper after pass from Ibagaza.
0-2. 56. Tristán. Turned and shot following Stankovic corner.
0-3. 88. Carlos. Headed in a long cross from the right.
0-4. 93. Carlos. Header from close range after Lauren headed on pass from right.

Mallorca didn't move out of second gear to win a match against already relegated Sevilla and hold on to seventh place in the league. The few people who turned out to watch this game (10,000, which was their lowest gate of the season) did so with one eye on the scoreboard in the hope of seeing their city rivals Betis relegated. In fact most of the 30,000 season ticket holders preferred to visit the famous 'Feria de Abril' which takes place in the city at this time of year rather than see their side suffer another humiliating defeat. They made the right choice, as Sevilla fell without a fight and Betis recovered to keep open their chances of survival. The home side manager Juan Carlos Alvarez was expected to use the match to try out a few new faces so that next season's manager Caparrós could decide whether he needed them or not. In the end however he decided to only make one change from the team who lost scandalously to Oviedo last week, with Jesuli replacing Juan Carlos and Olivera moving forward to play in attack. He did however bring on Portuguese defensive midfielder Bakero for his league debut in the last half hour. There was no place for Tsartas and Hibic, now both miraculously recovered after crying off from the match last week, nor was there any sign of Olsen's 'fever' which caused him to be substituted at half time. Just for the record, the disciplinary committee discussed whether they should penalize Sevilla for obviously throwing the match against Oviedo last week to prejudice Betis, but in the end they decided not to do anything for lack of real proof. Mallorca manager Fernando Vázquez lamented the fact that the season was finishing as they were now producing their best form of the season. Although he was still missing Nadal and Niño in defence, Armando came back from his suspension at right back, with Engonga keeping his place in the middle of the back four. Sevilla complicated matters for themselves with another sending off, their eleventh of the season, this time Nando losing his cool completely and insulting a linesman before the half hour was up. Mallorca took immediate advantage of their numerical superiority, and only six minutes later they were ahead, Diego Tristán finishing off after receiving a pass from Ibagaza. Except for a five minute period in the middle of the half, the visitors were completely in control, and at half time Alvarez brought on Angel for Jesuli to strengthen up his midfield and compensate for the extra man. It was Mallorca who increased their lead though, with ex Betis player Diego Tristán adding his second of the match and his 18th of the league so far. Vázquez brought on the ex Sevilla player Carlos just after Bakero and Zalayeta had entered for the home team, and after Sevilla were reduced to nine men after Angel went off injured, Carlos scored twice in the short period he was on to wrap up the match. None of that mattered very much to Sevilla, who were probably playing their last match in Sevilla this season following a two match ban for the riots at an earlier game (currently subject to appeal). Mallorca could go on to play the Intertoto cup if they like, currently holding on to seventh spot which would mean they restart their season in July. After a couple of successful years in Europe they have got the taste for it, but it would mean a long hard season, especially for their European internationals who would be playing in the summer tournaments. Better to lie on the beach in Mallorca and get their strength back?

Remaining matches:
Sevilla: Atlético (A), Rayo (H)
Mallorca: Valladolid (A), Atlético (H)