Deportivo La Coruña 3 - Tenerife 1

Deportivo: Molina; Scaloni, César, Naybet, Romero; Duscher, Sergio (Djalminha 65'); Víctor, Valerón (Capdevila 77'), Fran (Makaay 60'); Diego Tristán. 4-2-3-1.
Tenerife: Julio Iglesias; Basavilbaso, Lussenhoff, Alexis, David Charcos (Bassedas 55'), Bermudo; Javi Venta (Iván Ania 60'), Bino, Martí, Javi López (Bicho Fuertes 80'); Bruno Marioni. 5-4-1.

Team changes: Deportivo: César, Duscher for Héctor, Mauro Silva / Tenerife: Bermudo, Javi Venta, Javi López for Manel, Jordi, Bicho Fuertes.

Goals:
0-1. 30. Lussenhoff. Speculative shot from outside area which flew over keeper.
1-1. 75. Scaloni.Took square pass and beat keeper with low shot in off post.
2-1. 82. Scaloni. Controlled ball outside area and shot across keeper into net.
3-1. 86. Makaay. Picked up ball on right of area and beat man before scoring.

Deportivo La Coruña made hard work of beating bottom club Tenerife, who were leading the game with only fifteen minutes to go before losing 3-1. With only one win in the last four home games, Irureta lined up with his best possible side, missing the suspended Mauro Silva but otherwise with all his stars. In the opening minutes it looked like they would have no problems with Javier Clemente's side, with César celebrating his return to the Spanish squad with a header against the crossbar early on, Diego Tristán also hitting the bar and Julio Iglesias saving well from Tristán and Fran. But then a speculative shot from Lussenhoff from outside of the area caught Molina off his line, and the visitors were ahead. Before Depor had time to recover the Argentine defender almost got another, Fran having to clear his effort off the line, and the Gallicians retreated to their changing room at the break shell-shocked.

Referee Undiano Mallenco tried to give the home side a helping hand when he awarded a penalty in the second half for a foul by Alexis on Tristán on the edge of the area, ignoring a previous offside, but even that was no use as the inspired Iglesias saved Tristán's kick. Irureta brought on Makaay and Djalminha, but in the end it was midfielder turned right back Scaloni who had to save the day with two goals in five minutes, the first with a shot in off the post and the second a similar effort from outside of the area across the keeper. Makaay added a third before the game finished for a flattering result, although it could have been more if Iglesias had not made one last spectacular save from Tristán. The win keeps Depor in the running for the league title, and they stay two points behind Real Madrid and Valencia in third place. Tenerife fall to their first defeat under Clemente after a four match undefeated run and they stay bottom, still however only two points behind fifteenth placed Mallorca.