Real Sociedad 1 - Sevilla 0

Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Kvarme, Jauregi, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso, Aranburu; Tayfun, Nihat, De Pedro (Gabilondo 66'); Kovacevic (Boris 79'). 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Notario; Njegus, Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David; Casquero, Víctor Salas; Gallardo, Reyes (Toedtli 78'), Daniel Alvés (Arteaga 69'); Machlas (Antoñito 58'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Real: Tayfun for Karpin / Sevilla: Njegus, Javi Navarro, David, Víctor Salas, Daniel Alvés, Machlas for Redondo, Oscar, Juanmi, Torrado, Fredi, Antoñito.

Goals:
1-0. 31. Xabi Alonso. Glancing header across keeper from De Pedro cross.

Real Sociedad moved to within a point of Madrid after they beat Sevilla 1-0. Playing late on Saturday evening, Denoueix side already knew of Madrid's defeat and set off strongly looking to settle the match early on. De Pedro tested Notario with a free kick which almost crept in on the near post, and although Westerveld almost gifted a goal to Machlas, most of the early play was in Sevilla's half. On the half hour mark they finally took the lead, Xabi Alonso celebrating his first cap for Spain with a glancing header from De Pedro's cross.

Nihat put another shot just wide before the break and hit the woodwork early in the second half after controlling the ball on his chest, and Kovacevic turned a De Pedro cross just over the bar. Sevilla did eventually get a shot on goal though when Casquero's long shot was collected by Westerveld, and the introduction of Antoñito provided an added spark for a few minutes. But three minutes from the end Pablo Alfaro was sent off for a hard tackle on Gabilondo, and manager Caparrós followed him into the referee's book after insulting him in injury time.