Deportivo 4 - Numancia 1

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, César, Helder, Capdevila; Scaloni, Mauro Silva (Duscher 63'), Valerón, Fran (Fernando 63'); Pandiani (Turu Flores 75'), Diego Tristán. 4-4-2.
Numancia: Alvaro Nuñez; Jaume (Marini 83'), Antía, Soria, Clavero; Iñaki, Nagore, Caco Morán (Montoya 75'), Pacheta; Rubén Navarro (Rosu 61'), Ojeda. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Depor: Molina, César, Capdevila, Scaloni, Pandiani for Songo'o, Donato, Romero, Víctor, Djalminha / Numancia: Jaume, Clavero, Caco Morán, Ojeda for Manel, Octavio, José Manuel, Iván Pérez.

Goals:
1-0. 50. Pandiani. Pulled ball round inside penalty area and shot into roof of net.
2-0. 58. Diego Tristán. Dummied and shot in off post from outside area.
3-0. 60. Pandiani. Charged down keeper's clearance and headed into empty net.
3-1. 63. Jaume. Headed past keeper after free kick from right midfield.
4-1. 92. Diego Tristán. Took pass from Turu Flores and shot low past keeper.

Despite another five changes to the line up this week, Deportivo had no problems despatching lowly Numancia. Javier Irureta has been working the rotation system to perfection this year, and has built his squad to the point where two or three players can come in to any position almost without noticing the change. With an exhausting Champions League victory under their belts last Wednesday against PSG, and still needing to take a point against Milan in the feared San Siro stadium next Tuesday, Irureta rested key players, including his veteran captain Donato and his first choice front pairing Djalminha and Makaay. Not that the replacements up front were bad, Pandiani and Diego Tristán putting four past the French side after coming on in the second half midweek.

And they were to do it again, this time with two each after the break to consolidate their second position in the league. It did take them some time to get going though, even though they were playing against a Numancia side missing many of their best players. For a start, Manel, José Manuel, David Pirri and Iván Pérez were all unable to play as they were on loan from Deportivo in the first place and their contracts did not allow them to take part in this game. Manel conveniently got himself suspended anyway, meaning he can start with a fresh record as from next week, as can Octavio, who also picked up a fifth yellow card last week, although he didn't mean to get booked at all. With second keeper Rojas and Gustavo on the injury list and Muñiz not fully fit it was a wonder that García Remón found eleven men to play in this game, although there were two empty spots on the substitute's bench at kick off.

Depor did everything in the first half but score, with Diego Tristán on magnificent form but unable to find a way past the inspired Nuñez. Valerón also went close and Scaloni saw his shot hit the inside of the post and bounce clear. It was not all one-way traffic though, and Numancia had their chances on the counter-attack, with Molina, back in the side after an injury, saving from Rubén Navarro and Caco Morán. But once the first goal went in they had to come out more, and the home side took advantage of the extra spaces to finish them off.

With goals in the bag Irureta gave an outing to three players who have hardly played recently, Fernando, Duscher and Turu Flores, Fernando returning for the first time since being caught on camera two months ago by Canal Plus commentator Michael Robinson criticising his manager. In the end a comfortable win to maintain the status quo between the top three, with Depor still five points away from leaders Real Madrid. Numancia fall to their fourth home defeat in a row, but with relegation rivals Real Sociedad and Osasuna also losing they are not much worse off, keeping their 17th place in the league just above the drop zone.