Albacete 1 - Betis 0

Albacete: Almunia; Oscar Montiel, Pablo, Buades, Peña; Viaud (Alvaro Rubio 60'), David Sánchez; Redondo, Fabiano (Aranda 58'), Munteanu; Pacheco (Mikel 80'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Prats; Tais, Juanito, Rivas, Mingo; Ito (Capi 70'), Benjamín; Joaquín, Fernando (Tote 46'), Ismael; Alfonso (Denilson 62'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Albacete: No change / Betis: Tais, Fernando, Ismael for Varela, Capi, Denilson.

Goals:
1-0. 27. Pacheco. Volley from left of area which Prats could only turn into net.

Betis were beaten 1-0 by an Albacete side who have now won their last three matches by the same result, and who move five points clear of the drop zone. It was a first defeat for Víctor Fernández's side in 2004 after a run of nine games without a loss, and they drop behind city rivals Sevilla to ninth place in the table.

The Manchegans started well, with an ever improving David Sánchez directing play from midfield. The only goal came from Pacheco around the half hour mark, the Uruguayan striker firing in a shot from the left of goal which Prats got to, but could not stop entering the net off the post.

Fabiano and Redondo could have increased the lead for the home side had they been more on target, and Alfonso headed a Joaquín free kick against the bar for the visitors before the break. Rivas had to clear off the line from Pacheco in the second half with the keeper beaten, and Ismael could have saved a point had his shot not gone just wide of the post. Another good result for the locals though in their fight for survival, inspired in part by their keeper Almunia who has not let a goal in for the last four games.