Valladolid 2 - Mallorca 1

Valladolid: Ricardo; Torres Gómez, Caminero, Santamaría, Tena; Fernando, Lozano, Jesús (Eusebio 84'), Luis García (Fernando Sales 84'); Cuauhtèmoc Blanco (Chema 68'), Tote. 4-4-2.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Campano (Ibagaza 55'), Olaizola, Nadal, Fernando Niño, Miguel Soler; Novo, Engonga, Marcos (Carlos 55'), Paunovic; Luque. 5-4-1.

Team changes: Valladolid: Caminero, Tena, Lozano, Luis García for Peña, Marcos, Fernando Sales, Oscar / Mallorca: Fernando Niño for Eto'o.

Goals:
1-0. 05. Fernando. From close range after Tote dribbled in from right and laid back.
2-0. 58. Luis García. Took Tote pass and shot into top of net from edge of area.
2-1. 65. Luque. Received short pass from Novo and turned man before scoring.

Valladolid bounced back after their thrashing by Real Sociedad last week to beat struggling Mallorca and move back up to the middle of the table. The absence of defenders meant that veteran midfielder Caminero had to play in the back four, and Mallorca were also missing key players, in particular Eto'o who had already joined the Cameroon squad for the forthcoming Africa cup. That meant that Sergio Kresic put out an even more defensive line up than usual, with only Luque up front. However the young striker made his presence felt, bringing the first of a string of good saves out of keeper Ricardo in the opening minutes. Soon afterwards though Fernando put the home side ahead after a brilliant run by Tote, who beat Nadal, Soler and Niño before passing "rabona" style from the by-line to set up his ex Real Madrid team mate.

Shortly before half time Ricardo shone again with a reflex save from a Marcos header, and a few minutes after the interval Kresic decided he needed more bodies up front if his side were to get anything past the on-form keeper. On then came Carlos and Ibagaza, the latter making his first reappearance after an injury which has kept him out for almost all of the season. However before they had time to find their positions on the pitch Valladolid struck a second, Tote once again in the thick of the action laying off the ball for Luis García to drive a shot into the roof of the net. Two minutes later Cuauhtèmoc had the chance to finish off their opponents, but rather than score himself he waited too long for support and lost the opportunity. Luque did manage to get one back later on for the Balearic Island side, a coolly taken eight of the season, but Ricardo and his boys hung on for the valuable three points. The result means that Mallorca have now gone five games without a victory, and with Osasuna and Tenerife both winning, Kresic's side drop back in to the relegation zone.