Atlético Madrid 1 - Deportivo La Coruña 0

Atlético: Leo Franco; Velasco (Aguilera 67'), Perea, Pablo, Sergi; Ibagaza (Jorge 88'), Luccin, Marcelo Sosa, Antonio López; Salva (Paunovic 73'), Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Molina; Scaloni, César, Andrade, Romero; Sergio (Fran 75'), Mauro Silva; Víctor (Munitis 58'), Valerón, Luque; Pandiani (Diego Tristán 58'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Ibagaza, Marcelo Sosa for Aguilera, Colsa / Deportivo: César, Sergio, Víctor for Manuel Pablo, Pablo Amo, Duscher.

Goals:
1-0. 24. Antonio López. Turned ball in after Torres cut in and passed across.

Atlético Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruña 1-0 in the last match of the evening to move back up above Betis into the UEFA cup spots. Diego Simeone was given a hero's send off before the match after he announced that he was leaving the club to return to Argentina, the midfield hard-man touched by the warmth of the crowd as he was awarded the gold and diamond badge prior to kick off.

The team didn't disappoint him either, Fernando Torres setting up Antonio López to score the only goal midway through the first half. Prior to the goal, Luccin had gone wide with a free kick and Antonio López had had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Moreno Delgado (the first of four or five between the two sides). Depor came back late in the first half though, Sergio, Luque and Víctor all failing to find the target.

Atlético regained control after the restart, with Torres having another penalty appeal waved away and then getting through but being closed down by the defence, and Scaloni clearing off the line from a Pablo header with the keeper beaten. Perea was lucky to be let off a penalty at the other end though when he brought down Munitis, and then cleared a dangerous attack from Luque, and Pablo cleared another effort from Valerón out of the goalmouth a few minutes later. In the end though there were no more goals, and Atlético walked away with the honours.