Rayo Vallecano 0 - Sevilla 1

Rayo: Etxeberria; Mario, De Quintana, Mainz (Camuñas 80'), Graff; Julio Alvarez, Onopko, Azkoitia (Tal 71'), Michel; Bolo (Peragón 63'), Bolic. 4-4-2.
Sevilla: Notario; Redondo, Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David; Torrado, Casquero; Marcos Vales, Reyes (Njegus 84'), Fredi; Toedtli (Moisés 77'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Rayo: Bolo for Mora / Sevilla: Toedtli for Antoñito.

Goals:
0-1. 67. Marcos Vales. Header from corner which went under Mario's legs.

Sevilla moved out of the relegation zone after beating Rayo Vallecano 0-1, their second victory in a row after their surprise win at Barcelona the week before. Both sides came into the game desperate for points, although Rayo too had recorded two important victories in a row against Barcelona and Sevilla's neighbours Betis, saving manager Fernando Vázquez from what looked at one time like a certain destitution.

As it happened opportunities were few and few between, although there could have as many as three penalties had referee Turienzo Alvarez so wanted. In the opening minutes he turned down Rayo's appeals after Redondo blocked Michel's shot with his hand, and later on tackles by De Quintana on Toedtli and Javi Navarro on Bolic were ruled to be legal. Turienzo was quick and ready with the yellow cards though, and ten minutes before the break Sevilla's Fredi was shown a second and had to leave the field. Vallecas cannot be his favourite ground, as the left sided midfielder was sent off in this fixture last season only minutes after coming on as substitute.

After that Rayo should have taken advantage, but they were met by a Notario in top form. The keeper made several first class saves after the break, and as luck would have it the visitors scored in one of their only attempts at goal, Marcos Vales heading a corner down through Mario's legs into the bottom corner of the net midway through the second half. The defeat takes Sevilla out of the bottom three to the detriment of their opponents, who once more find themselves in trouble after having thought the worst of their problems were over.