Albacete 2 - Valladolid 0

Albacete: Almunia; Oscar Montiel, Pablo, Siviero, Peña; Alvaro Rubio, David Sánchez (Parri 58'); Redondo, Pacheco (Delporte 73'), Munteanu; Aranda (Mikel 25'). 4-2-3-1.
Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez (Zapata 80'), Peña, Jonathan, Marcos (Chema 68'); Caminero, Jesús; Fernando Sales, Sousa (Figueredo 62'), Oscar González; Losada. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Albacete: Siviero, Aranda for Buades, Fabiano / Valladolid: Marcos for Oscar Sánchez.

Goals:
1-0. 10. Aranda. Header from long free kick which ballooned up over keeper.
2-0. 63. Mikel. Struck volley from outside of area which looped into net.

Albacete continue to surprise in their return to the top flight, and they moved seven points clear of the drop zone with a 2-0 win over Valladolid. Aranda got the opening goal somewhat fortunately early on when his header from Alvaro's free kick ballooned over the keeper, but soon afterwards had to leave the field with a shoulder injury. Oscar went close for the visitors who also hit the post from a corner, but Pablo headed just wide at the other end before the break.

Early in the second half Aranda's replacement Mikel made it two with a spectacular volley, and Albacete were home and dry. Mikel himself went close with a couple of headers after that, but it didn't matter by then as their opponents had little to offer other than efforts from Figueredo and Oscar which were easily dealt with by Almunia and his defence. Albacete have now won four of their last five games, and they move level on points with their rivals and Real Sociedad. It looks as if they are here to stay.