Sevilla 1 - Villarreal 0

Sevilla: Notario; Njegus, Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David (Luis Gil 92'); Casquero (Reyes 60'), Francisco; Gallardo (Mario 90'), Víctor Salas, Tomás; Toedtli. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Galván, Ballesteros, Galca, Arruabarrena; Amor (Xavi Gracia 46'), Cagna (Craioveanu 75'); Calleja, Guayre, Escoda (Quique Martín 55'); Palermo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Sevilla: David for Juanmi / Villarreal: Galván, Cagna, Escoda, Guayre for Xavi Roca, Quique Alvarez, Jorge López, Víctor.

Goals:
1-0. 32. Toedtli (penalty). When player himself fouled by Galvan after Njegus cross.

Sevilla did their best to join their neighbours Betis in the UEFA cup, but in the end events beyond their control left them just outside of the top seven. The 40,000 crowd turned up with 40,000 radios to follow what was happening in the match between Osasuna and Alavés, hoping for a draw or a home win to enable their heroes to jump over the Vitorians in the league. They themselves needed to win as well of course, but with a relaxed Villarreal side in front of them who had already saved themselves from relegation, their was little opposition. To make matters worse for the visitors they were missing two of their key attacking players Víctor and Jorge López through injury, and Craioveanu was called up for his last game before moving on.

The pressure on López Vallejo's goal was constant before the ice was finally broken from the penalty spot, Toedtli converting the kick after he himself was brought down by Galván in the area following good work by Njegus. For a brief moment Sevilla were in Europe, but only four minutes later there were 40,000 groans as the radios announced that Alavés had scored. The players decided to forget the other game though and concentrate on winning what would be their fourth match in a row, and Gallardo brought a good save out of the keeper before the break. The one-way traffic continued in the second half, but although Víctor Salas went close twice there was no way past López Vallejo and his defence.

It was an academic exercise though, as confirmation came through that the Basque derby had ended as expected. After the game outgoing president Roberto Alés protested strongly that Osasuna had let their neighbours win, and that justice had not been done. Whatever the case the results cannot be changed, but Sevilla can anyway congratulate themselves on a good first season back in the top flight. Villarreal go back home to regroup for the new season, with bad feeling in the dressing room between manager Víctor Muñoz and his Argentine stars Palermo and Cagna. They are still in with an outside chance though of a place in the Intertoto cup if Espanyol decide not to participate, and that might ease off a bit of the pressure. And in a couple of months time it starts all over again...