Celta 3 - Valencia 2

Celta: Cavallero; Velasco, Berizzo, Cáceres, Yago (Juanfran 46'); Vagner, Jayo; Karpin, Mostovoi (Coira 75'), Gustavo López (Edu 46'); Catanha. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Ayala, Djukic, Pellegrino; Angulo, Baraja, Albelda (Ilie 65'), Vicente; Kily González; Juan Sánchez, Carew (Diego Alonso 70'). 3-4-1-2.

Team changes: Celta: Cavallero, Berizzo, Vagner, Karpin, Mostovoi, Gustavo López for Pinto, Juanfran, Giovanella, Jesuli, Edu, McCarthy / Valencia: Angulo, Baraja, Albelda, Vicente for Angloma, Deschamps, Mendieta, Aimar.

Goals:
0-1. 31.Juan Sánchez. Poked past keeper after Albelda laid back Angulo's pass.
1-1. 50. Karpin (penalty). After Djukic ruled to have pushed Vagner.
2-1. 60. Karpin (penalty). After Djukic adjudged to have fouled Mostovoi.
3-1. 66. Karpin. Shot across keeper from right of goal after Catanha laid ball out.
3-2. 88. Vagner (own goal). Chested ball past keeper after Alonso headed across.

A controversial game with referee Daudén Ibáñez the centre of attention as he awarded three more than dubious second half penalties to scupper Valencia's league title pretentions. It was a topsy-turvy match, with Valencia dominating the first half with some of the best football of the season, and then falling behind to a referee-assisted hat-trick from Karpin before coming back right at the end. Héctor Cúper had to change his team around, with Mendieta and Angloma both suspended and Deschamps and Aimar both out after picking up injuries in the midweek Champions League game with Panathinaikos. Víctor Fernández too was expected to give some of his first choice players a rest after their hard UEFA cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Barcelona on Thursday night, but in the end he put out a full strength line up, a victory being even more important now if they are to return to European football next season.

Celta's form in the second half of the season has been second to none, and they had gone eight games without defeat before this one to climb back up to the top half of the table. However they were surprised by a Valencia side who had a day's extra rest, and Carew and Vagner both tested Cañizares in the first couple of minutes. Valencia got their reward on the half hour mark when Juan Sánchez fired in a shot which took a deflection off a defender, but Baraja missed a good chance of adding to the lead before the break. But then Daudén took over, awarding two penalties to the home side in the space of ten minutes, neither of which were the slightest bit clear. Karpin calmly converted them both, then rubbed salt in the wound completing his first ever hat-trick in Spain five minutes later.

Cúper brought on Ilie, making his reappearance after almost two months out with injury, and then Diego Alonso as Valencia tried to get back in the game. Then just as they were giving up hope they were thrown a lifeline when Vagner chested the ball into his own net trying to play it back to his keeper. Cavallero somehow kept out an effort from Baraja a minute later, the ball squeezing through his legs and bouncing off the post, and in the sixth minute of a five minute injury period Daudén Ibáñez incensed the local crowd giving a penalty against the unfortunate Vagner after Pellegrino fell dramatically in the penalty area, sending off the Brazilian into the process. However when the ensuing riot calmed down Cavallero guessed correctly to keep out Kily's spot kick.

The game ended in uproar, giving Celta an unexpected win which takes them up to ninth place, just four points now from the UEFA cup spots. Valencia missed out on an opportunity to move over Deportivo up to second, four points behind the leaders Real Madrid after both lost. After the game club president Pedro Cortés said he will be making an official complaint against the referee for his performance tonight. It probably won't make much difference though, and Real Madrid are one step closer to becoming champions. Leagues are won and lost on nights like this.