Real Sociedad 2 - Mallorca 1

Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Jauregi, Schürrer, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso, Aranburu; Karpin, Nihat (Tayfun 75'), De Pedro (Gabilondo 80'); Kovacevic (Khokhlov 88'). 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Campano, Lussenhoff, Nadal, Poli; Lozano, Marcos (Carlos 76'); Novo, Ibagaza, Riera (Miguel Soler 81'); Eto'o. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Real: Westerveld, Xabi Alonso for Alberto, Tayfun / Mallorca: Lussenhoff for Pandiani.

Goals:
0-1. 47. Eto'o. Near post header across goal following Campano cross.
1-1. 52. De Pedro. Shot through crowded goalmouth after Karpin corner cleared.
2-1. 57. Aranburu. Ran on to shoot into net after Franco failed to hold Nihat pass.

Leaders Real Sociedad came back from behind to beat Mallorca 2-1 and keep their four point lead at the top of the table. Raynald Denoueix went back to his first choice side, with Xabi Alonso returning after a one match ban and Westerveld recovered from his stomach upset. Manzano was missing the suspended Pandiani, and played with a more defensive line up. The two sides have been the revelation of the league so far, but they cancelled each other out in the early minutes. Real gradually got on top as the half progressed, but apart from a Kovacevic header which went just wide close to the break, they only managed long shots at Leo Franco's goal.

Mallorca themselves had not had a shot on target up to then, but in the second minute of the second half they went in front, Eto'o losing his markers to head Campano's cross wide of Westerveld. The Camerooni striker was clearly delighted, as he had never scored with his head before. The lead only lasted five minutes though before De Pedro levelled the scores with a long shot which took a deflection off a defender following Karpin's corner. Westerveld made a reaction save from Poli's header soon afterwards at the other end, but Real charged forward and Aranburu scored what was to prove the winner, following up after Leo Franco cut out Nihat's pass to Kovacevic but couldn't hold on to the ball. It was another important win, and stretches their unbeaten run to fourteen games.