First Division - Day 20

Mallorca 2 - Recreativo Huelva 1

Mallorca: Prats; Héctor, Ballesteros, Nunes, Fernando Navarro; Basinas, Jordi López; Jonás Gutiérrez, Ibagaza (Tuni 93'), Arango (Varela 78'); Maxi López (Víctor 87'). 4-2-3-1.
Recreativo: López Vallejo; Merino, Beto, César Arzo, Poli; Juanma, Viqueira, Jesús Vázquez (Barber 57'), Aitor (Rosu 79'); Javi Guerrero (Sinama-Pongolle 65'), Uche. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Mallorca: Prats, Ballesteros, Arango for Moyà, Ramis, Varela / Recreativo: Juanma, Viqueira for Cazorla, Barber.

Goals:
1-0. 38. Ballesteros. Fired shot past keeper after Arango centre came across goal.
2-0. 45. Nunes. Ran in from behind to head Ibagaza corner into top of net.
2-1. 49. Juanma. Got on end of Aitor cross to volley past keeper on far post.

Recreativo drop down the table to eighth after losing 2-1 at Mallorca, their first defeat in five games. The Andalusians were hardly in it during the first half, their only chance coming when Uche was tackled as he lined up to shoot, and López Vallejo did well to save at the feet of Maxi. But the keeper was beaten twice shortly before the interval, both times by central defenders, Ballesteros getting on the end of Arango's cross after Maxi failed to connect, and Nunes rising above the defence to head home Ibagaza's corner.

Juanma pulled one back soon after the restart with an impressive first time volley from Aitor's cross, but that was the sum total of Recre's efforts in the second half other than a possible penalty on Uche and a late Viquiera free kick which Prats dealt with comfortably. Jonas failed to find the target when free in front of goal, but when Ballesteros was sent off for a second bookable offence (his second red card in a fortnight), Manzano went for caution. No problems in the end though in clocking up only their second home win of the season, and the three points gives them a good cushion over the bottom teams.