Valladolid 3 - Real Sociedad 0

Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez, Gaspar, Mustafá, Oscar Sánchez; Peña, Colsa; Fernando Sales, Oscar González (Aganzo 78'), Olivera (Chema 78'); Pachón (Jesús 65'). 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Jauregi, Boris, Aranzábal; Karpin, Xabi Alonso; Tayfun, Khokhlov (Aranburu 75'), De Pedro; Kovacevic. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valladolid: Gaspar, Olivera for Jesús, Chema / Real: Jauregi, Tayfun, Khokhlov, De Pedro for Kvarme, Aranburu, Nihat, Barkero.

Goals:
1-0. 01. Olivera. Took Pachón backheeled pass on left of goal and beat keeper.
2-0. 06. Olivera. Collected chested pass and hit low shot past Westerveld.
3-0. 21 Oscar González. Far post header after right sided corner nodded on.

A surprise 3-0 victory by Valladolid over last week's leaders Real Sociedad handed the top spot to Real Madrid. Reynald Denoueix's side had been in first place in the table since week six, and some 2,000 fans made the journey inland to support their side, something not often seen in Spanish football. However while they were still taking their seats Oscar González burst through the defence, and although Westerveld blocked his shot, the ball fell to Pachón who heeled it back to Nico Olivera for him to score. The Uruguayan international had only just returned to the side for this match, but he got his name on the scoresheet again five minutes later when Pachón tried to control a pass, the ball falling for him to drill a low shot past the Dutch keeper.

This time Real had no reply, and Valladolid went three up with only twenty minutes on the clock when Oscar González found the net with a far post header following a corner. It was only then that the Basques started to rally, but this was not their night and Jauregi hit the post with a header from a corner near to half time. Fernando Sales went close to getting a fourth goal for the home side soon after the break, but after that they sat back and let their opponents come at them, with Moré replacing striker Pachón by Jesús to take control of midfield.

In the absence of the suspended Nihat, Karpin tried to urge on his side, but Bizzarri was only troubled a couple of times in all the second half. Real drop to second, and with Valencia and Deportivo only two points behind they need to get their act together quickly yo maintain their challenge for a Champions League place. The victory takes Valladolid up six places to eleventh, three more points in their fight for survival.