Rayo Vallecano 0 - Oviedo 2

Rayo: Keller; Alcázar, Urbano, Ballesteros, De Quintana (Bolo 28'); Helder (Iván Iglesias 46'), Poschner; Glaucio (Bartelt 63'), Luis Cembranos, Michel; Bolic. 4-2-3-1.
Oviedo: Esteban; Keita, Danjou, Boris, Rabarivony; Onopko, Jaime; Amieva, Paunovic (Juanchi González 85'), Iván Ania (Raúl 88'); Oli (Rubén 80'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Rayo: De Quintana, Helder for Setvalls, Quevedo / Oviedo: Keita, Rabarivony, Jaime, Paunovic, Iván Ania for Martinovic, Gaspar, Tomic, Rubén Reyes, Geni.

Goals:
0-1. 06. Danjou. Headed Iván Ania's corner on past Keller.
0-2. 65. Oli. Shot under Keller after cross from Iván Ania.

Oviedo finally won their first away match of the season, and they did it on the ground where they achieved their last away victory just over ten months ago. The win was a relief for Radomir Antic's side as they sink slowly towards the bottom three, and gives them for the time being at least a cushion from the relegation spots. Antic himself was sitting this one out in the stands after being suspended for pushing referee Megia Dávila last week, but he was in constant contact with his number two Marigil by mobile phone. The team lined up with five changes from last week, with Gaspar and Martinovic suspended and Tomic injured, although Keita and Iván Ania returned after their one match ban.

Oviedo caught Rayo in probably their worst moments of the season, the Madrid based side having been eliminated from the UEFA cup by Alavés on Thursday night after two defeats in a row in the league. Juande Ramos has had to change his thinking from looking for a place in the UEFA cup to securing first division football next season, and he too rested his tired players, including Bolo who was jeered by fans during training on Friday. Quevedo was forced to miss the game having picked up a two match suspension the weekend before. Rayo's plunge in form was apparent throughout the match, and although they fared a little better in the second half, they only managed a couple of shots on target all night. Within six minutes Oviedo found a gap in their defence, Danjou getting only their third away goal all season, and Ramos was forced to put on Bolo with only a half hour gone in an attempt to kick start his side.

Only Glaucio created any problems for Esteban, with Oli bringing a good save out of Keller just before the break. The home grown striker went one better twenty minutes in to the second half, taking advantage of a mix up by a depleted defence (Ramos was playing with five forwards by then) to get his tenth of the season. After that Oviedo pulled in the wagons, with Antic using up time with late substitutions. The win takes Oviedo four points clear of Numancia and only three points now behind Rayo. Neither can afford too many slip ups in the remaining games to the end of the season.