Real Murcia 0 - Betis 1

Murcia: Juanmi; Maciel (Valera 70'), Cuadrado, Hurtado, Clavero; Acciari, Jensen (Tato 24'); Luis García, Richi, Gancedo (Julio Alvarez 60'); David Karanka. 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Prats; Tais, Juanito, Rivas, Luis Fernández; Marcos Assunçao (Ito 68'), Benjamín; Joaquín, Fernando (Arzu 74'), Ismael; Dani (Alfonso 79'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Murcia: Hurtado, Clavero, Richi, Gancedo for Azkárate, Loeschbor, Carreras, Michel / Betis: Juanito, Marcos Assunçao, Fernando, Ismael for Lembo, Ito, Alfonso, Denilson.

Goals:
0-1. 04. Marcos Assunçao. Free kick from left of area into far top corner.

Betis moved to within five points of the European spots after they defeated bottom club Real Murcia 0-1, a result which means that John Toshack's team are already mathematically relegated. The only goal of the game came from a Marcos Assunçao free kick in the fourth minute, the Brazilian midfielder's shot from the left of the area lodging in the far top corner of Juanmi's net. Fernando and Rivas could have increased the lead later in the half, the former's header being stopped by Juanmi and the latter seeing his effort go wide.

The locals had not caused too many problems up to then, with David Karanka trying his luck without much success and Maciel at least giving Prats some work. Referee Puentes Leira turned down a couple of penalty claims by the local after the break, and also refused one for Joaquín at the other end. But the game fizzled out in the last few minutes, the home fans resigned to seeing their side back in the second division next season. The games won't be much duller than this one though.