Atlético Madrid 0 - Deportivo La Coruña 0

Atlético: Sergio Aragoneses; Aguilera, García Calvo, Lequi, Sergi; Novo, De los Santos, Ibagaza (Simeone 76'), Musampa (Jorge 67'); Nikolaidis (Toché 82'), Arizmendi. 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Molina; Scaloni, Andrade, Romero, Capdevila; Sergio, Mauro Silva; Víctor, Valerón (Fran 61'), Luque (Djalminha 83'); Diego Tristán (Pandiani 77'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Aguilera, García Calvo, Sergi, Musampa, Arizmendi for Contra, Gaspar, Iván Romero, Nano, Fernando Torres / Deportivo: Sergio for Fran.

Goals: None.

Third placed Deportivo La Coruña played out a 0-0 draw at Atlético Madrid, a result which takes them to within a point of Valencia. The home side had the better of the first half, but without the suspended Fernando Torres they could not convert their chances. Gregorio Manzano decided to replace the young striker with the even younger under 21 international Arizmendi (rather than another youth international Toché), but although he did show some good touches, the experienced defence were in control. Even so Musampa and Nikolaidis could have put their side had the former not shot straight at Molina and the latter not put his effort over the bar before the break.

The Galicians improved though in the second half, with Diego Tristán failing to get on the end of two dangerous crosses from Luque and putting another cross from Víctor over the bar from close range. Molina did have some more work to do as well though, saving a late effort from Arizmendi which could have secured the three points it for the locals.

With one eye on their midweek Champions' League game with Juventus, Irureta eventually decided that a point was enough and rested his star players, including Valerón who was returning to the Calderón stadium for the first time since joining Deportivo a few seasons ago. Even so the last chances fell to substitute Pandiani, who failed to control the ball after Aragoneses blocked Sergio's shot and then had a penalty appeal turned down for a possible foul by Sergi, who was celebrating an automatic one year extension to his contract after playing his 25th game of the season. By then though most fans had given up and gone home.