Alavés 2 - Celta Vigo 2

Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Eggen, Téllez, Geli; Desio, Pablo (Azkoitia 68'); Tomic, Jordi Cruyff (Sarriegi 80'), Ibon Begoña (Magno 60'); Javi Moreno. 4-2-3-1.
Celta: Cavallero; Velasco (Mostovoi 65'), Berizzo, Cáceres, Yago; Jayo, Vagner (Giovanella 80'); Jesuli (Gustavo López 65'), Edu, Tomás; Catanha. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Alavés: Geli, Pablo, Jordi Cruyff for Sarriegi, Azkoitia, Magno / Celta: Jesuli, Tomás for Mostovoi, Gustavo López.

Goals:
1-0. 32. Javi Moreno. Shot through Cavallero's hands after Cruyff headed on.
2-0. 68. Tomás (own goal). Turned ball into own net after Moreno cross.
2-1. 73. Mostovoi. Placed header past keeper after cross from Gustavo López.
2-2. 89. Edu. Header unmarked following corner from Mostovoi.

Two of Spain's European 'conquistadores' returned to reality after reaching the quarter finals of the UEFA cup on Thursday night. Alavés came out to a standing ovation from their fans after eliminating Inter Milan in the San Siro stadium on Thursday, and Mané felt the players were on such a high that he kept the same starting eleven that began that game. Celta's feat of eliminating Stuttgart was less spectacular by comparison, but their players were showing signs of strain after a long season and Víctor Fernández was obliged to rest Mostovoi, Gustavo López and Giovanella. With Juanfran and Karpin both suspended after picking up their fifth cautions in the last game and Djorovic, Doriva, Manolo and Bergés still injured, Jesuli and Tomás were given a rare opportunity to stake their claims for a place in the first team. McCarthy was left out of the squad after South Africa refused to give him permission to play, the player having declined to play for his country this weekend.

With an on-form Javi Moreno celebrating his first call up for Spain, Alavés started strongly, with Ibon Begoña shooting over from close range early on. Berizzo cleared off the line from Moreno, and a few minutes later the striker made it 17 for the season in the league with a shot from the edge of the area. Celta's only reply was a couple of weak efforts by Jesuli, and after Moreno shot wide and had another effort cleared off the line by Cáceres either side of the break, Víctor decided he would have to call in the cavalry. On came Mostovoi and Gustavo López, but before they could settle in, the Vitoria side were two up, Tomás diverting the ball into his own net as he tried to cut out Moreno's cross.

The introduction of Mostovoi and Gustavo López though changed course of the game, and within a few minutes they had one back when the two substitutes combined for the Russian to head the Argentinian's cross past Herrera. Mostovoi got free but shot straight at the keeper, and Celta claimed a penalty when Tomic clearly blocked a cross with his arm. Then just when it looked as if Alavés would take the honours a Mostovoi corner found Edu for him to head past a tired defence. Alavés had only themselves to blame for not putting the result out of Celta's reach earlier on, but with the three teams above them failing to win they lose a good opportunity to close back up on the UEFA spots. Celta take their unbeaten league run to six games, and although they are still down in fifteenth place, they are only five points now behind seventh placed Rayo Vallecano.