Real Sociedad 0 - Mallorca 1

Real Sociedad: Alberto; Fuentes (Rubén Vega 65'), Corino, Pikabea, Aranzábal; Jauregui, Aranburu; Khokhlov, Idiakez, Gabilondo (López Rekarte 55'); Jankauskas (De Paula 57'). 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler; Finidi (Novo 57'), Engonga, Marcos, Ibagaza (Carlos 75'); Eto'o, Luque (Stankovic 57'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Real: Khokhlov for López Rekarte / Mallorca: None.

Goals:
0-1. 90.Nadal. Header from edge of area after free kick by Stankovic from left.

Luis Aragonés did it again. Mallorca got their third victory in a row at San Sebastian, although they had to wait until the last minute to do so. And it was a direct instruction from the veteran manager to Nadal telling him to go up for a dead ball kick that made the difference, the ex Barcelona defender powering a header past Alberto from Stankovic's cross. Up to that point the game had been fairly even, with both teams creating chances but unable to put them away. The first half belonged more or less to the visitors, with Eto'o hitting a volley against the post on the half hour mark, and Ibagaza on his best form shooting just wide minutes before the interval.

The second half though was dominated by Real Sociedad, with Khokhlov, manager Periko Alonso's only change to his side, heading wide and then shooting straight at Leo Franco when he should have done better. Then with the home side expecting to take a point, along came Nadal to ruin their day. Real Sociedad have now gone around seven months since their last win in the Anoeta stadium, and with a constant rainstorm throughout the match, even their enthusiastic supporters looked fed up. Their mini-revival last week at Alavés came to an abrupt end, and Alonso still has some planning to do.

His first move may be to look for some new players for December when the transfer window opens up, with Arif Erdem almost definitely returning to Turkey after only four months with the club, and Clemente's other new signings Peiremans, Tayfun and Collet all out injured. Mallorca continue their rise and now go up to eighth, level with Real Madrid and only a point away from the UEFA spots. They have picked up thirteen out of the last fifteen points, an even more remarkable achievement if you take into account that three of those matches were against the infamous 'Bermuda triangle' of Deportivo, Barcelona and Real Madrid, which Luis Aragonés's team navigated as if it were the Little Piddlington boating pond. Their fans are hoping that it will be plain sailing from here on. They are certainly the most on form team in the league right now.