Numancia 1 - Racing Santander 0

Numancia: Alvaro Nuñez; Manel, Antía, Soria, Octavio; Iñaki, Nagore, Pacheta, José Manuel (Muñiz 90'); Iván Pérez (Caco Morán 75'), Rubén Navarro (Ojeda 83'). 4-4-2.
Racing: Ceballos; Mellberg, Ramis, Arzeno, Juanma (Morán 80'); Julio Alvarez (Manjarín 65'), Colsa (Espina 46'), Ismael, Amavisca; Regueiro, Mazzoni. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Numancia: José Manuel, Rubén Navarro for Caco Morán, Ojeda / Racing: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Ramis (own goal). Turned Rubén Navarro's cross past Ceballos.

Numancia picked up an invaluable three points in this relegation struggle which were effectively worth six. One place above the relegation zone, the Soria based team were gradually being caught by the bottom three as they picked up points recently. Real Sociedad's victory on Saturday night had temporarily left them down in eighteenth place, and nothing short of a win would have left them behind the San Sebastian team. But an early own goal by Racing's Ramis was enough to give them the victory and keep their heads above water pending their next three games against the feared big three.

With Regueiro declared fit and Juanma recovered from a stomach bug, Gregorio Manzano's side lined up unchanged for the third week in a row. However they were lifeless in the first half, allowing Numancia to come at them and create all the chances. Mellberg cleared off the line from Pacheta, Rubén Navarro shot just wide and Ceballos saved from Iván Pérez in a one-sided first half. Manzano brought on Espina at the interval and his presence inspired the visitors, with Regueiro going close early on and Manel shooting just wide. But the packed crowd urged their heroes on, and Iñaki almost got a late second with a shot from the halfway line after seeing the keeper off the line, Arzeno saving in extremis on the line.

Numancia's Manel, on loan from Deportivo La Coruña, won himself a fifth yellow card of the season, which means he will conveniently miss his side's next game against his old club, a match that he could not play in anyway for contractual reasons. Racing's defeat leaves them back in bottom spot for the first time in four weeks, and they lose ground on the three teams above them, who all won. With Oviedo joining the group after losing again, it now looks like five teams for three relegation spots. Numancia's victory today did them a world of good. Which way to La Coruña?