Atlético Madrid 1 - Betis 3

Atlético: Leo Franco; Seitaridis, Perea, Pablo, Antonio López; Maxi, Raúl García (Luis García 74'), Cléber Santana (Miguel 61'), Simao (Reyes 35'); Diego Forlán, Agüero. 4-4-2.
Betis: Casto; Ilic, Melli, Juanito, Damià; Arzu, Juande (Nano 86'); Odonkor (Sobis 91'), Capi, Xisco; José Marí (Babic 73'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Seitaridis, Cléber Santana for Pernía, Nacho Camacho / Betis: Damià, Juande, Odonkor, José Marí for Fernando Vega, Edu, Sobis, Pavone.

Goals:
0-1. 14. Juande. Poked ball back into net after Leo Franco saved from José Marí.
1-1. 25. Agüero. Shot from outside of area which Casto could only push in to net.
1-2. 48. Xisco. Curled free kick over defensive wall wide of Leo Franco.
1-3. 65. Capi. Picked up short pass from Arzu and fired shot past keeper in off post.

Disappointment for fourth placed Atlético Madrid, who lost 1-3 to a depleted Betis. In the absence of several star players, José Marí was drafted in to the visitors' line up, and it was his shot on the quarter hour mark which set up Juande to open the scoring. Before that Leo Franco had had a couple of saves to make, but Agüero equalised with a long shot which Casto failed to push clear midway through the first half.

For a few minutes Atlético looked like taking the lead, Forlán in particular testing Casto. However just a couple of minutes in to the second half Xisco restored the lead with a well struck free kick. Reyes fired a shot wide at the other end, and soon afterwards Capi wrapped things up after a good run by Melli.

The home side's only reply after that were long shots from Forlán, Raúl García, Maxi and Agüero, but there was no way through. The white hankies were out in the end in protest, but the Andalusians had three vital points and they move up to ninth in the table, virtually sure of another season in the top flight.