Betis 0 - Real Madrid 2

Betis: Prats; Otero, Vidakovic, Filipescu, Luis Fernández (Benjamín 65'); Merino (Gálvez 55'), Alexis (Cuéllar 35'), Cañas; Finidi, Alfonso, Denilson. 4-3-3.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Iván Helguera; Geremi, Iván Campo, Karanka, Roberto Carlos; McManaman (Karembeu 75'), Redondo, Savio (Baljic 79'); Raúl, Anelka (Julio César 85'). 1-4-3-2.

Team changes: Betis: Merino, Cañas for Benjamín, Gálvez / Madrid: Geremi, Iván Campo, Redondo, Raúl for Salgado, Julio César, Karembeu, Baljic.

Goals:
0-1. 36. Roberto Carlos. Shot from outside area after Savio laid ball back.
0-2. 67. Anelka. From right of goal after Raúl threaded pass through.

Real Madrid kept up their challenge on next season's Champions League places, and at the same time condemned Betis to the second division, with a confident victory at the Ruiz de Lopera stadium in Sevilla. Although Madrid could qualify automatically for next season's top European competition if they win the final in Paris in ten days time, their manager Vicente Del Bosque did not want to put all his eggs in one basket, and put out a first choice team for this vital match. Back came all the players he rested last weekend, except for Morientes who was still injured, and nine of the eleven who started mid-week against Bayern Munich kept their places. Geremi came in for Michel Salgado, who picked up an injury in training midweek, and Karanka, who was suspended on Tuesday night, came back in place of Julio César. Del Bosque also kept Iván Helguera as sweeper after his recent success in that position. Although now fit, Hierro was left back in Madrid, the manager not wanting to risk him given the upcoming European final (although he may get a run out against Valladolid next week). Betis had to win also to have any chance of survival in the first division. Their new manager Faruk 'Pepe' Hadzibegic started well last week, winning his first game in charge, but he neede six points from the last two matches, plus defeats for one of the teams above Betis, for them to stay up. Concerned about the threat of Raúl, he brought Merino in to mark him, with Cañas strengthening midfield in place of the more attacking Gálvez. The match was played in sweltering conditions, with temperatures outside the ground around 35°C, plus a couple of degrees more on the field of play, and an average crowd of around 42,000 turned out to watch. The first half belonged to Betis in everything but goals, with Iker Casillas once again superb between the sticks. Alfonso was inspired against his old team, and he tested the young keeper twice in the first half, also setting up Cañas for a shot early on. Shortly after the half hour Alexis left the field injured and Hadzibegic put on a more offensive player, Cuéllar, in midfield. Madrid's nerve held however, and Roberto Carlos opened the scoring against the run of play with his third goal in four visits to the ground, his shot bouncing awkwardly in front of Prats before going in off the far post. Betis didn't give up, but after Alfonso had hit the bar with a header, fans groaned as Oviedo equalized Rayo's early goal in Vallecas. Betis saw the game slipping away, and shortly after the restart Finidi missed a good chance to equalise, his header going just over the bar.Pepe had to go for broke, and he brought on first Gálvez and then Benjamín. That left too many gaps at the back however, and after Anelka gave a warning, he finished them off with a well taken goal after Raul had found the gap on the right of defence. The heat was suffocating, and Del Bosque took off a suffering McManaman to bring on Karembeu. Macca is one of those Northern Englishmen who start off their summer holidays a light blue colour, and after a couple of weeks gradually turn white, and he must be grateful that the season is finishing early this year in view of the impending Euro 2000 tournament. June can be stifling in the south of Spain, especially when you have to chase a ball around. The result, together with the victory of Oviedo, means Betis will definitely be joining their city neighbours Sevilla in the second division next year. The implications have not been thought through yet, but players such as Alfonso, Finidi and most definitely Denilson will surely not stick around. During the match disgruntled fans threw objects onto the pitch, including a metal spanner, and Finidi in particular was singled out for the supporters' anger after missing part of the season due to his involvement in the African Nations cup. To add insult to injury, both Betis B and Sevilla B were relegated this week from the second division B. Real Madrid move up to fourth, a point behind Barcelona and Zaragoza and one above Alavés and Valencia. For the record, their goal average against Barcelona is favourable, and against Zaragoza is unfavourable, but they could end up anywhere between second and sixth by the end of next weekend. In any case, one way or another they should be playing the Champions League again next season.

Remaining match:
Betis: Numancia (A)
Madrid: Valladolid (H)

Celta 0 - Valencia 0

Celta: Pinto; Coira, Sergio, Cáceres, Vivas; Giovanella, Celades;Makelele, Karpin, Tomás (Belmadi 77'); Turdó (Mena 83'). 4-2-3-1.

Valencia: Cañizares; Anglomá (Juan Sánchez 88'), Djukic, Pellegrino, Carboni; Mendieta, Gerard, Farinós, Kily González (Albelda 80'); Angulo; Piojo López. 4-4-1-1.

Team changes: Celta: Makelele, Tomás, Turdó for Gustavo López, Revivo, McCarthy / Valencia: Gerard for Albelda.

Goals: None.

Celta and Valencia played out one of the four scoreless draws of the day, a result which didn't suit the ambitions of either but left both with their objectives intact. Celta were pushing for the top Intertoto cup place, and Valencia were looking to add to their run of five league wins in a row with a view to moving into the Champions League spots in the first division. They are having one of their best ever ends to a season, with their aggregate victory over Barcelona midweek taking them to their first ever Champions League final. If they do the impossible and win against Real Madrid in the final in 10 days time they will automatically qualify for next year's competition. However as with Madrid, their manager Héctor Cúper obviously did not want to rely solely on that route, and went in to this match with his strongest side, viz. the eleven players who lined up against Barcelona. That meant no place for Adrian Ilie, who had to watch the match from the stands, nor for Juan Sánchez, Milla, Oscar or Björklund, all of whom were on the bench. Celta manager Víctor Fernández must have dreamt of having a full squad to choose from, but for this match he was down to fourteen fit and eligible players. McCarthy joined Djorovic and Juanfran on the suspension list this week, and with six other first teamers injured, including Mostovoi, Gustavo Lopez and Revivo, Víctor was forced to bring in three youngsters from the B team, Mena, Jonathan and Bugarín, to make up the numbers. Tomás came in on the left wing for a rare start, and the bustling midfielder took his opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the side, crashing the ball against the crossbar in the first minute. Fifteen minutes later Celta went close again when Angloma almost deflected Turdó's shot into his own net. Valencia sat back, relying on their rapid counter-attacks, and Sergio was forced to clear from Gerard's header under the posts. More of the same in the second half, with referee Japón Sevilla disallowing Karpin's goal for a previous foul, and Farinós hitting the cross bar for the visitors with a direct free kick. At this stage alavés were losing, which meant Valencia would go above them, but news of their come back lead Cúper to throw on Sánchez near the end. Víctor brought on Belmadi and youngster Mena, and Celta produced the best chances of the night, with Cañizares proving he is on his best form with saves from Mena, Coira and Karpin near the end. The draw leaves Valencia down in sixth place, and although a victory against Zaragoza in their last match on Friday would take them above their rivals, they still would have to hope that one of the other three teams above them slips up to have a chance of taking one of the top four spots. Celta go up to seventh, nine points behind Valencia, but more importantly ahead of Mallorca for that Intertoto top spot. Two Spanish teams will qualify for the summer tournament provided they finish between seventh and twelfth, but the second best must enter the second round at the beginning of July, whereas the higher ranked of the two will enter two weeks and a round later. Mallorca have already said they would not be interested in the second spot, and with Rayo and Valladolid not interested in competing at all, Málaga could go through. Celta have a hard match at Barcelona next week however, and with Mallorca at home to doomed Atlético Madrid they would appear to be favourites. Both will play on Friday night, and with six vital matches played simultaneously, it will be a night of transistor radios. We recommend buying shares in Sony España.

Remaining match:
Celta: Barcelona (A)
Valencia: Zaragoza (H)