Alavés 2 - Mallorca 4

Alavés: Kike; Azkoitia, Sarriegi, Karmona, Geli; Desio, Tomic (Raúl Gañan 73'); Astudillo, Jordi Cruyff, Magno (Iván Alonso 58'); Javi Moreno. 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Miki; Olaizola, Fernando Niño (Siviero 32'), Nadal, Miguel Soler; Finidi, Engonga (Biagini 63'), Marcos, Ibagaza; Eto'o, Luque (Novo 50'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Alavés: Kike, Azkoitia, Sarriegi, Karmona, Magno for Herrera, Eggen, Téllez, Ibon Begoña, Pablo / Mallorca: Marcos, Ibagaza, Luque for Novo, Francisco Soler, Carreras.

Goals:
1-0. 05. Karmona. Volleyed in on far post after Geli free kick from left.
1-1. 06. Nadal. Followed up after Geli saved his first header from Ibagaza corner.
1-2. 47. Finidi. Curled long shot over keeper after Ibagaza hit bar.
2-2. 57. Azkoitia. Turned on ball from Desio to fire shot in off post.
2-3. 72. Biagini. Shot low across keeper after receiving pass from Eto'o.
2-4. 83. Eto'o. Shot wide of keeper after Novo laid ball back from right wing.

Mallorca kept up their hopes of reaching second place with their fourth victory in a row. Luis Aragonés has already set new records with the club this season, and his side kept up the pressure on Deportivo with a comfortable win over a depleted Alavés side. Aragonés could count on an almost full strength side, with Marcos, Ibagaza and Eto'o all returning after a one match suspension, and fourth choice goalkeeper Miki Garro was the only non regular player in the starting line up. However Miki has not let a goal in since replacing the injured Leo Franco, Burgos and Roa three weeks ago, and his good form makes life even more difficult for the manager when the others return to fitness. Their opponents Alavés had nothing to play for but pride in this match, with Javi Moreno and the suspended Contra saying goodbye to the crowd for the last time before heading off to AC Milan. With Téllez suspended for the eighth day of the season and Eggen out for several months, Mané made changes to his defence, with Azkoitia coming in as makeshift right back and Sarriegi getting a rare start alongside club captain Karmona. The manager also brought in Kike Burgos in goal, apparently as a reward for his loyalty throughout the season.

The packed crowd turned up for the last time this season to cheer on their team, and they were delighted when Karmona got on the end of Geli's free kick to find the net in the fifth minute. Their joy only lasted a minute however, as Nadal levelled scores at the other end after Geli had blocked his first header. Jordi Cruyff saw his shot balloon over Miki's goal soon afterwards, and Finidi and Eto'o went close for the visitors before the half hour was up. With only one minute on the clock after the restart Mallorca took the lead after Ibagaza shot against the woodwork, the ball coming back out to Finidi for him to curl it back over Kike and in to the top corner of the net. That put Mallorca into second place in the league, at least for ten minutes until Azkoitia made it all square with a shot which hit both posts before bouncing in.

Aragonés had taken off one of his forwards Luque to protect the lead, and needing a victory he put on Biagini for Engonga. Within ten minutes the Argentinian broke the deadlock after Eto'o played the ball through, and ten minutes after that Eto'o got one himself after Novo set him up from the right wing. The Alavés fans didn't let that spoil their fun though, and unlike some other more demanding supporters at other clubs, they gave their players a standing ovation at the end of the game. They are now in tenth place, realistically out of Europe for next season unless other sides decide not to play in the Intertoto cup. Mallorca will be there next season, although not under Aragonés, who will be moving back to Atlético Madrid come what may. A replacement of his quality will be hard to find.