Alavés 1 - Deportivo La Coruña 0

Alavés: Bonano; Edu Alonso, Gaspar, Sarriegi, Coromina; Mena (Thiaw 77'), Astudillo, Carpintero, Nené; Bodipo (Juanito 85'), Rubén Navarro (Jandro 70'). 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Héctor, Coloccini, Romero; De Guzman (Munitis 55'), Duscher, Sergio, Momo (Gallardo 64'); Arizmendi (Xisco 75'), Diego Tristán. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Alavés: Bonano, Mena, Carpintero, Rubén Navarro for Costanzo, Jandro, Juanito, Aloisi / Depor: Romero, Duscher, Momo for Capdevila, Iago, Munitis.

Goals:
1-0. 79. Bodipo. Following up after Molina pushed out shot from Nené.

Alavés had to win and hope that Espanyol slipped up at home to Real Sociedad. The Galicians would be no pushovers however as they were hoping to secure an Intertoto spot after another disappointing season.

The visitors made the better start. In the first quarter, Arizmendi fired over with the goal gaping. Then Manuel Pablo's cross was just too long for Diego Tristan. La Coruna's next attack saw Tristan control a long pass from midfield and stab a shot just past the right post.

The omens looked bleak for Alavés when Bodipo's header came off the inside of the post and ran right across Molina's goal-line. Bopido's flick then teed up Mena for a ferocious strike that Molina beat away. The home side's pressure mounted as Molina was again called into action to punch clear a Ruben Navarro drive.

Early in the second half Arizmendi looked to have done everything right as he dribbled his way into the box but the finish didn't match the run. This was virtually the last that was seen of the Galicians as an attacking force.

They had Molina to thank for keeping them in with a shout of an Intertoto place, but Villarreal were winning comfortably in El Madrigal. Bopido flicked on Gaspar's header from a corner but Molina saved. Gaspar had another opportunity at the back post following a corner but couldn't connect properly. Jandro was next to try his luck with Molina saving yet again. The goalkeeper looked to be the only player from La Coruna who was bothered about playing in the Intertoto.

There was more at stake for Alavés, of course and the La Coruna keeper was finally beaten 15 minutes from time. He did well to keep out a Nené drive but Bodipo was on hand to poke home the rebound. Thiaw set up Bodipo on the counter but the former Racing striker couldn't connect and injured himself in the process.

There was worse news to come for Alavés. The funereal hush that descended over Vitoria in the game's closing stages signaled that Espanyol had scored at the death and consigned Alavés to the second division. Meanwhile, former Champions' League regulars, Deportivo La Coruna, will not play in Europe next season.