Alavés 1 - Las Palmas 0

Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Eggen, Téllez, Geli (Iván Alonso 60'), Ibon Begoña; Astudillo, Desio, Jordi Cruyff, Pablo; Javi Moreno. 5-4-1.
Las Palmas: Nacho González; Edu Alonso, Alvaro, Schurrer, Olías, Angel; Pablo Lago (Jorge 65'), Samways, Josico (Orlando 82'); Eloy (Guayre 65'), Oulare. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Alavés: Eggen, Ibon Begoña for Karmona, Magno / Las Palmas: Paqui, Angel for Olías, Jarni.

Goals:
1-0. 77. Javi Moreno. Headed down past keeper after high ball from right.

Alavés went back to basics after losing their last four matches in a row. Last year Mané built his game around a packed midfield and defence, with one player up front, usually Javi Moreno or one of his old veterans Sallinas or Kodro, and as a result won many games by a single goal to nil. Having reached Europe for the first time this year he has been trying to play a more attractive football, but the defence has been leaking goals as the more classy teams have been finding gaps at the back. And so it was that Dan Eggen got a recall, Geli moved across to cover for team captain Karmona, out injured for the first time in five years with a dislocated collar bone, and Ibon Begoña came in at left back in a five man defence.

It was a terrible day in Alavés, cold, windy and with sleet falling before and during the game, and with Las Palmas lining up with their usual five defenders, with Paqui returning from suspension and Jarni banned, it was not an exciting prospect for would-be football goers. But the Vitoria crowd are a hardy lot, and no less than 12,500 turned up to watch. Most of the Las Palmas team came on to the pitch wearing gloves, apparently in a state of shock having left the sunny Canary Islands just a three hour flight ago. However they recovered quickly, and after Herrera saved from Josico, referee Rodríguez Santiago awarded the visitors a penalty when Geli handled in the area. However the penalty spot was in a puddle of icy water, and the shivering Oulare splashed his kick wide of the goal to let Alavés off the hook.

Alvaro went close with a header a few minutes later, but Alavés finally started to gain control, with Astudillo and Desio taking charge of the centre of the park. Javi Moreno brought a spectacular save out of Nacho González just after the interval, and the league's 'Pichichi' put a header wide a minute later. Mané brought on his secret weapon Iván Alonso on the hour mark, and he found enough space on the right to float the ball over for Moreno to finally settle it with a well placed header. His sixteenth in the league and his nineteenth in all competitions. There was still time for González to save from Jordi Cruyff, but not much else as the referee decided it was time for everyone to get back to the heated dressing rooms for a cup of hot chocolate or similar beverage. Alavés had stopped their free-fall slide down the table, but they are still a point behind Las Palmas, who suffered their first defeat in five games. The visitors' top priority though was to get to the airport and back on the plane home. Are you sure Vitoria is in the same country?