Racing Santander 1 - Sevilla 0

Racing: Lemmens; Coromina, Moratón, Pablo Casar, Neru; Nafti, Diego Mateo; Pablo Lago (Morán 57'), Benayoun (Matabuena 76'), Regueiro (Txiki 63'); Javi Guerrero. 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Notario; Redondo (Víctor Salas 74'), Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David; Casquero (Machlas 60'), Torrado; Gallardo (Fredi 55'), Reyes, Marcos Vales; Antoñito. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Racing: Pablo Casar, Nafti, Pablo Lago for Juanma, Sarabia, Diego Alonso / Sevilla: Marcos Vales for Fredi.

Goals:
1-0. 42. Javi Guerrero (penalty). After Pablo Alfaro stopped ball with hand.

Sevilla failed to take advantage of Atlético's defeat in Bilbao, and missed out on the chance to move in to the UEFA spots after they were beaten 1-0 by Racing Santander. The pre-match build up was overshadowed by protests organised by local fans against their controversial president Dmitri Piterman, who threatened to pull the club out of the league before he was calmed down by his own directors. At the start of the game though his detractors handed out giant red cards to supporters who gave him a hard time as he took his usual place in the dugout alongside manager Chuchi Cos.

What had made matters worse for Piterman was that his side had fallen to four defeats in a row, albeit against Depor, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Barcelona, and the three wins in a row when he took over were now old history. What he really needed was a win, and Sevilla's veteran defender Pablo Alfaro gave him a hand, literally, cutting out a high cross with his arm as the ball was falling to Javi Guerrero in the area. Referee Esquinas Torres had no doubts in awarding a penalty which Javi Guerrero converted, although he let Alfaro off with only a booking.

Earlier in the game Marcos Vales had hit the post, but otherwise the visitors had not created too many chances. Vales shot just wide again in the second half, and substitute Víctor Salas put the ball into the stands when Antoñito set him up in front of goal. The last few minutes were frantic, with Lemmens saving from Víctor at one end and Mateo hitting the post at the other. But Racing put an end to Sevilla's charge up the table, and they move two points clear of the drop zone. Piterman breathed a sigh of relief.