Deportivo 2 - Betis 0

Deportivo: Molina; Héctor, Donato, Naybet, Capdevila; Duscher, Sergio; Makaay (Pandiani 85'), Valerón (Djorovic 89'), Fran; Diego Tristán (Víctor 68'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Prats; Cañas (Calado 60'), Filipescu, Rivas, Luis Fernández; Ito (Gudjonsson 62'), Benjamín; Varela, Capi (Amato 80'), Denilson; Joao Tomás. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Deportivo: Capdevila, Duscher for Romero, Mauro Silva / Betis: Cañas for Joaquín.

Goals:
1-0. 08. Makaay. Shot across keeper after precision pass from Fran.
2-0. 71. Sergio. Headed down past keeper after Víctor crossed in from right.

A table topping clash at the Riazor stadium on Saturday night, with the two teams lying fourth and second in the table vying for top spot pending Sunday's results. In the end it was Deportivo who ran out winners, and they ended the weekend (and consequently the year) in first place after Real Madrid were held to a draw the following day. After a couple of recent slip ups Irureta has toned down his rotation system, and with the midweek cup match against Hospitalet called off he was able to call on a virtually full strength squad, missing only the injured Mauro Silva and Romero, who was taken ill shortly before the game. Their opponents Betis are starting to impress in their first year back in the top flight, although Juande Ramos had to leave out his young winger Joaquín, who was suffering from an ankle problem.

Once again striker Makaay lined up on the right wing for Depor, and although that made room for Luis Fernández to make forays down his flank, it gave them more fire power in attack. The Dutch forward it was who opened the scoring in the eighth minute, running on to a defence splitting pass from Fran to shoot across the league's best keeper Toni Prats, and he combined well with Diego Tristán to keep Prats on his toes throughout the game. Betis had their moments though, not least of which when Joao Tomás forced Molina to turn his shot away near to half time. Midway through the second half Irureta decided to bring on Víctor on the right, switching Makaay to his more natural position up front in place of Tristán. Within three minutes the move paid off, the young winger swinging across a long ball which Sergio headed into the net on the run.

Now Depor were safe, and although Juande brought on Amato near the end, Irureta ordered his players to run down the clock. The win ends a good year for his side, top of the table and still going strong in the Champions League and the Spanish cup, and they end the day a point ahead of Real Madrid, who they visit in the first match of the new year. Betis failed once again to get a victory at the Riazor, having only managed four draws in their twelve visits there to date, and they drop a couple of places to fourth, albeit only two points below their rivals. The Andalucian side are getting a bit of a reputation losing the last match of the year before the holiday break, but who can blame them if their thought are not on the job right now. They have had a good season, and should be back in January raring to go once again.