First Division - Day 37

Mallorca 0 - Sevilla 0

Mallorca: Moyà; Héctor, Ballesteros, Nunes, Fernando Navarro; Varela (Trejo 70'), Pereyra, Ibagaza, Jonás Gutiérrez; Víctor (Maxi López 66'), Arango (Tuni 88'). 4-4-2.
Sevilla: Palop; Hinkel (Maresca 46'), Javi Navarro (Chevantón 56'), Dragutinovic, Antonio Puerta; Poulsen, Martí; Daniel Alves, Renato, Adriano (Escudé 10'); Luis Fabiano. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Mallorca: No change / Sevilla: Hinkel, Antonio Puerta, Martí for Escudé, Jesús Navas, Kanouté.

Goals: None.

Sevilla were unable to take advantage of the slips by Real Madrid and Barcelona, a 0-0 draw at Mallorca leaving them still two points behind the leaders. As things worked out in the other games, a win would have actually taken them into a three way tie at the top of the table. But missing strikers Kanouté and Kerzhakov, and with Navas injured in the pre-match warm up and Adriano limping off in the tenth minute, they were unable to make much headway. Only an early strike from Luis Fabiano caused any work for Moyà, whereas Palop's goal was bombarded by long shots from Ibagaza, Arango and Varela, and the keeper was lucky to be let off with a yellow card when he came out of his area and brought down Arango.

The second half started in the same vein, with Varela and Ibagaza bringing good saves out of Palop early on. Sevilla finally got into gear, Moyà having to be at his best to block a shot from Puerta, but they were struck another blow when Dragutinovic was sent off after picking up a second booking for a foul on Jonás. Even so Chevantón and Maresca went close, and Puerta felt himself unlucky not to be given a penalty when brought down by Jonás. With news coming in that Madrid and Barcelona were both drawing, Juande threw everyone forward, and even Palop tried his luck in an attempt to repeat his UEFA cup semi-final goal. But it was not to be, and they need a near miracle next weekend if they are to clinch the title.