Deportivo 1 - Valladolid 2

Deportivo: Songo'o; Manuel Pablo, Helder (Scaloni 64'), Donato, Romero; Víctor (Emerson 86'), Mauro Silva, Valerón (Turu Flores 73'), Fran; Makaay, Diego Tristán. 4-4-2.
Valladolid: Ricardo; Torres Gómez, García Calvo, Heinze, Marcos; Peña, Turiel; Caminero (Fernando Sales 60'), Fernando, Chema (Ricchetti 83'); Kaviedes (Alberto 78'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Depor: Songo'o, Helder for Molina, César / Valladolid: Ricardo, Turiel, Kaviedes for Bizzarri, Ciric, Pachón.

Goals:
0-1. 44. Kaviedes. Lifted ball over keeper after Chema knocked on Caminero pass.
0-2. 63. Fernando Sales. Clipped ball over Songo'o after long pass .
1-2. 76. Makaay. First time volley after ball laid in from left by Turu Flores.

For those people who fill in the "quinielas", the Spanish pools coupons, this one had to be a home banker. Deportivo had not been beaten at home in the league since January 2000, having put together a run of 27 games without defeat, whereas Valladolid had not won a game away from home all season. But Real Madrid's victory the night before to take the league title had left the Gallicians with little to play for, and Valladolid were playing for their survival in the first division. And in the end the team who wanted the win most came away with the spoils, the visitors providing one of the surprises of the day with a 1-2 victory. Valladolid's caretaker manager Pepe Moré took a chance bringing back two players who had been out of favour with Pancho Ferraro, keeper Ricardo replacing Bizzarri after his late mistake last week and Kaviedes returning up front. The move paid off completely, with Ricardo putting in a faultless display to keep out the Deportivo attacks at crucial moments of the game, and Kaviedes getting the first goal of the game just before half time.

Valladolid were the better team in the first half, with Songo'o, recalled from international duty with Cameroon to replace the suspended Molina, being tested by Chema and Peña early on. Ricardo made an important save from Víctor halfway through the first half, and with the 45 minutes almost up, Kaviedes broke the stalemate, lifting the ball over the despairing Songo'o following up after Chema failed to take full advantage of a Caminero through pass. Psychologically it was a good time to score, and after Ricardo kept out efforts from Diego Tristán and Donato, the visitors added to Depor's woes when Fernando Sales scored a second only minutes after coming on for Caminero. With Djalminha still injured and Pandiani suffering from fever, Irureta brought on Scaloni and then the forgotten Turu Flores, and Turu forced his way past the defence minutes later to set up Makaay for him to volley the ball home. It was the Dutch striker's 99th goal in the Spanish league, but he hardly celebrated as the players ran back, eager to continue as soon as possible.

Try as they might though there was no way through, as Ricardo saved once again from Scaloni before the match came to an end. It was a blow for Deportivo, and although Barcelona's defeat means they are assured of a Champions League place, they are now only two points ahead of Mallorca and their second place is in danger. With a visit to Valencia to come and then a tricky home match against Málaga to end with, any slip up could mean they have to play the qualifying round in the Champions League rather than go through automatically for the league stage. Valladolid incredibly move up to thirteenth place only a few days after being tipped for relegation, and with a five point gap to the bottom three, they look as if they are staying up. Their last two matches are against Barcelona and Real Madrid so nothing is certain, but with their financial future depending on playing first division football next season they will do their utmost. Players and staff were only paid their March salaries last week, but new investors are around the corner if they survive. They couldn't have a better incentive.