Mallorca 2 - Deportivo 1

Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler; Finidi, Engonga, Marcos, Ibagaza (Paco Soler 75'); Eto'o, Luque (Armando 68'). 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Songo'o; Manuel Pablo, Donato, Helder, Romero (Capdevila 67'); Mauro Silva, Valerón; Víctor (Pandiani 70'), Djalminha, Fran (Makaay 55'); Diego Tristán. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Mallorca: Ibagaza, Eto'o for Carreras, Carlos / Depor: Helder, Valerón, Diego Tristán for Naybet, Emerson, Makaay.

Goals:
1-0. 02. Eto'o. Controlled ball on edge of area and beat Songo'o with low shot.
2-0. 65. Ibagaza. First time shot after cross from Luque on left.
2-1. 79. Makaay. Got ahead of defence to volley home long ball from left.

Mallorca put an end to Deportivo's seven match unbeaten run with a well constructed victory in their San Moix stadium. It was the battle between two of the maestros of Spanish football, Aragonés and Irureta, who between them have been in charge for over one thousand games in twelve teams in the first division. This time it was the older of the two , Luis Aragonés, who won the tactical conflict, organising his troops to defend an early lead after Cameroon's Eto'o, back for the first time in three games after playing for his country, had scored in the second minute against his fellow countryman Songo'o. Aragonés let Deportivo have the ball in their own half, only pressurising the visitors when they crossed over the half way line, and his well disciplined defence only allowed one real shot at goal in all the first half, which came from ex Mallorca striker Diego Tristán.

Irureta's team talk at the break had an immediate effect, and within five minutes they had forced Leo Franco into making four consecutive saves, with Tristán, Fran and then Djalminha twice having a go. When that didn't work the manager brought on Makaay, originally left out of the starting line up to reserve him for Wednesday night's Champions League game after he had played for Holland midweek, and he joined Tristán up front. That left a bit more room for Mallorca in midfield though, and Ibagaza celebrated his return to the side after injury with a goal on a rapid counter-attack down the left wing. The chess match was getting interesting, and Depor brought on yet another forward Pandiani as Mallorca changed their front three to switch to a 5-4-1 formation.

With eleven minutes to go a long pass from Capdevila on the left found Makaay, and he slotted home his thirteenth of the season with a first time volley. A frenetic last few minutes saw Leo Franco save at the feet of Makaay and Djalminha shoot just wide, but by then Deportivo were tiring, probably due in part to their eleven hour journey the day before due to the pilots' work-to-rule. Mallorca had defeated Deportivo for the first time since they were promoted to the first division four seasons ago, and they have now taken ten points off the four matches against the big three. They stay in fifth place, three points now behind Barcelona who they play next week at the Nou Camp. Deportivo's defeat was not so bad given that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia all drew, although they slip to five points behind leaders Real Madrid. They now go back to European competition, with Paris Saint Germain their visitors midweek, a match they must win.