Sevilla 0 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Sevilla: Notario; Njegus, Javi Navarro (Víctor Salas 60'), Pablo Alfaro, David; Gallardo, Francisco (Luis Gil 73'), Casquero, Fredi (Tomás 86'); Olivera, Moisés. 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Molina; Scaloni, Helder, Naybet, Capdevila; Sergio, Mauro Silva, Víctor (Héctor 89'), Valerón (Emerson 68'), Amavisca; Makaay (Pandiani 85'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Sevilla: Francisco for Torrado / Deportivo: Helder, Capdevila, Sergio, Víctor, Valerón, Amavisca for César, Romero, Duscher, Djalminha, Fran, Diego Tristán.

Goals:
0-1. 52. Makaay. Chested down cross from Víctor and beat Notario on the turn.

Deportivo kept up their challenge for the championship with a narrow 0-1 win at Sevilla, and they move up to third in the table level with Valencia. As expected Irureta made some changes in view of Wednesday's cup final, resting Diego Tristán, Fran and Romero, although with several players out injured the rest of the team picked itself. Sevilla lined up with nine Spaniards in their side, Francisco the only change from the side who hammered Mallorca last week. Depor put in a practical performance, not in the same category as their midweek victory over Juventus but enough to give them the three points. Víctor gave them a good start when he forced Notario in to a good save, but the visitors were soon on the back foot as Sevilla's attacking machine clicked into gear. Molina made a double stop, first from his own defender and then Gallardo from close up, and then he blocked another effort from the dangerous Olivera on the near post. The Uruguayan striker was in an aggressive mood, and referee Iturralde González turned down a couple of penalty appeals as he fell rather too easily in the area.

Deportivo went in front though early in the second half, the unmarked Makaay controlling Víctor's cross and having time to turn and drill his shot wide of Notario. After that it was keep-ball, with Valerón and then Makaay being taken off to make sure they were fit for the appointment in the Bernabeu. The home side did their best, Caparrós bringing on a couple of attacking players, but a packed defence gave them little sight of goal. Olivera shot wide a couple of times and Casquero tested Molina again, but the game ended without further score to give Sevilla their second home defeat in a row. They still have hopes of playing in Europe, but they ended the weekend down in midtable, four points behind the UEFA spots, and having said they will not be playing in the Intertoto cup the task seems difficult. Still, they will not be playing Depor every week.