Sevilla 1 - Racing Santander 0

Sevilla: Notario; Njegus (Oscar 28'), Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David; Gallardo, Casquero (Marcos Vales 72'), Samways, Tomás; Antoñito, Reyes (Toedtli 80'). 4-4-2.
Racing: Ceballos; Pineda, Moratón, Juanma, Sietes; Ismael, Nafti (Messias 46'); Morán, Munitis, Regueiro (Benayoun 65'); Javi Guerrero (Diego Alonso 65'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Sevilla: Njegus, Gallardo, Casquero, Tomás for Alfonso, Redondo, Marcos Vales, Fredi / Racing: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 33. Casquero. Beat keeper from outside area after short Tomás free kick.

Sevilla climbed away from the relegation spots with a much needed victory over Racing Santander. The Andalucians started the day only just above the relegation spots, and with the threat of a four match ground suspension hanging over their heads they needed to put some daylight between themselves and the bottom sides.

After a minute's silence in memory of ex club president Luis Cuervas and former striker Juan Araujo, the game got off to a lively start, with Reyes and Antoñito delighting the crowd with some nice touches. Reyes forced Ceballos into the first save of the night, and Tomás almost caught the keeper out with a long speculative lob.

Racing have shown recently though that they are not a push-over, and Notario had to tip a dangerous shot from Munitis over the bar. A few minutes later though Sevilla took the lead with a set-piece free kick, Tomás fooling the defence with a clever back-heel leaving Casquero free to drive a shot round the wall and past Ceballos. Racing came close to equalising though before the break when a header from Ismael hit his own man Juanma with the keeper beaten.

Manolo Preciado brought on Messias for the injured Nafti at the break, but it was the home side who came closest to scoring, a long free kick from Vinny Samways bouncing past everyone and hitting the post. Racing made a double change, but the new men Benayoun and Diego Alonso fared no better than their predecessors, and apart from a late effort from Ismael which Notario saved, the result was never in doubt. Racing drop down to twelfth, with Sevilla now only a point a place behind them in the table.