Celta 0 - Barcelona 2

Celta: Dutruel; Velasco, Cáceres, Sergio, Juanfran; Makelele, Celades; Karpin, Mostovoi, Revivo; Turdó. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Arnau; Abelardo, Reiziger; Puyol, Xavi, Zenden; Luis Enrique, Cocu; Simao, Dani, Figo. 2-3-2-3.

Barcelona recorded their first away win in three months in the league to stay a point behind Zaragoza in third place. The fact that they did so against championship contenders Celta suggests that the Catalan side are back on track and once again one of the strong favourites to take the title. Van Gaal decided to play a virtually unchanged side, with Rivaldo joining a substitute's bench valued at 63,000 million pesetas, including both de Boers, Guardiola (recently linked with Chelsea), Sergi (ditto), Hesp and Déhu. Dani was the only change to the starting line up, replacing Patrick Kluivert who has been suspended for five games after being caught on video throwing a punch at Rayo Vallecano captain Cota. The Dutch striker claimed that he was only retaliating after the defender grabbed him by the noble parts, but the disciplinary committee decided not to punish Cota and to impose a ban of four games, plus one for repeating an offence (he was already banned for four matches earlier this season). Barcelona will probably appeal, claiming that it sets a dangerous precedent second guessing referees, and that in any case the committee did this on their own initiative without receiving any complaint from the opposing team. Celta manager Víctor Fernández decided to bring back Dutruel in goal after missing a game through flu, despite criticism from fans after the French keeper confirmed that he will be joining Barça in the summer. Djorovic was left out for disciplinary reasons for turning up four days late after the holidays, and Mostovoi came back in to the side in place of Giovanella, with Karpin passing a late fitness test to play. In the absence of Rivaldo at the start, Luis Figo took over the mantle of super-star, scoring his third goal in two games with only two minutes on the clock. Most of the first half then belonged to Celta, with Arnau demonstrating to Dutruel that he will have his work cut out next season to win a place. At half time Fernández replaced McCarthy with Turdó, and the Argentinian striker missed what will surely be the easiest chance of the season, somehow shooting over the bar from a yard out with the goal at his mercy. Gustavo López came on for Celades and Rivaldo took over at centre forward from Dani, not the left wing he had complained about but not his favourite spot behind the attack. With ten minutes to go Sergi came on for Simao and Giovanella replaced a tired Karpin, and just when they thought it was all over, Rivaldo stamped his seal on the match, heading in a cross from Figo. Celta continue their mini-slide, dropping below Bilbao and Rayo on goal average to sixth, and Barcelona move up.

Alavés 1 - Athletic de Bilbao 2

Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Téllez, Karmona, Torres Mestre; Morales, Desio, Pablo, Nan Ribera; Javi Moreno, Salinas. 4-4-2.
Athletic: Imanol Etxeberria; Larrazábal, Lacruz, Alkorta, Larrainzar; Urrutia, Alkiza, Felipe; Guerrero; Joseba Etxeberria, Ezquerro. 4-3-1-2.

Athletic de Bilbao moved into the top four of the league with their tenth match in a row without defeat, and their second win in four days. They did so at the expense of local Basque rivals Alavés, who have never beaten the 'Lions' in the thirteen matches they have now played in the first division. Alkorta and Urrutia returned to the Bilbao side after one match suspensions in place of Ferreira and Ezquerro, with Urzaiz keeping his place up front. Contra returned at right back for Alavés after his one match suspension, with Ibon Begoña returning to the bench, but Meho Kodro was unfit to play after a bout of flu and his place was taken by Julio Salinas. The veteran striker wasted no time in calling on his book of tricks, and halfway through the first half he fell like a stone in the area after Alkorta had barely touched him. Up to now the two players were best of friends after playing together in Bilbao and for Spain, but Alkorta must have been changing his views as Salinas stepped up to convert the penalty himself. Their lead only lasted five minutes however, as Joseba Etxeberria got away from his marker to head Felipe's cross past Herrera. This was Etxeberria's seventh goal of the season, equalling his total for the whole of last season, and the Spanish international continued to cause trouble in the second half. Twenty minutes after the break Torres Mestre brought him down in the penalty area and García Aranda awarded the second penalty of the match, which Larrazábal put away. Salinas came close to equalising in the last minute, but the ball got away from him and the other Etxeberria, Imanol, saved. Alavés slip down the table to 10th after their third home defeat of the season; Bilbao go from strength to strength.