Mallorca 1 - Osasuna 1

Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Carreras; Novo (Marcos 50'), Engonga, Ibagaza, Stankovic (Finidi 50'); Eto'o, Luque (Carlos 55'). 4-4-2.
Osasuna: Sanzol; Yanguas, Aitor Ocio, Cruchaga, Mateo, Iban Pérez; Oscar Arpón (Alfredo 60'), Angel, Lekumberri (Palacio 65'); Sabino, Iván Rosado. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Mallorca: Carreras, Novo, Stankovic for Miguel Soler, Finidi, Marcos / Osasuna: Sanzol, Angel, Iván Rosado for Nuno, Alex, Armentano.

Goals:
0-1. 25. Iván Rosado. Chipped over keeper as he came out.
1-1. 55. Nadal. Header past keeper after long ball in by Engonga.

Mallorca manager Luis Aragonés knew before the match that this was not going to be easy. "Games against the bottom club worry me more than others. Osasuna is an orderly team who are going to defend and play on the counter-attack. We must score early or we could have difficulties". And Luis's worst fears came true as Iván Rosado, one of three changes in Lotina's side, galloped free halfway through the first half and lobbed the ball over the head of the advancing Leo Franco. It took Mallorca most of the match to get back, with Nadal heading the equalising goal from Engonga's pass in the second half.

Luis changed his line up for this game, going back to the 4-4-2 formation he used so successfully earlier in the season. Camerooni striker Eto'o was back in favour after falling out so publically with his manager last week, and with Stankovic and Ibagaza also in the starting eleven, Finidi was the non-EU player left on the bench. However, having hardly had a shot at goal in the first half, Aragonés brought him on together with Marcos shortly after the break. After Nadal's goal Mallorca kept up their attack, with their most on form player Ibagaza forcing Sanzol to make a spectacular save from his low drive. The Osasuna keeper was replacing Nuno, who was serving a one game suspension having been sent off the week before, and he was to save his team later on, stopping shots from Engonga and substitute Carlos.

With 25 minutes to go referee Medina Cantalejo sent off Fernando Niño for a second bookable offence, and with all three substitutes already on after Carlos had replaced Luque (who was still feeling his knee injury), Luis was forced to restructure his team, with Engonga dropping back. The nippy Carlos continued to create danger in attack, but Osasuna almost took the lead when Carreras cleared off the line from Rosado. In the end it was a valuable point for Osasuna, although they are still bottom having now gone a record twelve games without a win. Mallorca's point keeps them in sixth place, although they miss out on an opportunity to go fourth.