Celta Vigo 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Celta: Pinto; Velasco, Berizzo, Cáceres, Juanfran; Vagner, Jayo; Karpin, Edu (McCarthy 82'), Gustavo López (Jesuli 66'); Catanha (Yago 92'). 4-2-3-1.
Bilbao: Lafuente; Lacruz, Roberto Rios, Oscar Vales, Larrazábal; Tiko, Orbaiz (Yeste 75'), Alkiza, Felipe; Joseba Etxeberria (Merino 55'); Ezquerro. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Celta: Pinto, Vagner, Karpin, Gustavo López for Cavallero, Giovanella, Mostovoi, Jesuli / Bilbao: Larrazábal, Felipe for Lasa, Javi González.

Goals:
1-0. 44. Catanha. Header on far post after run and cross by Gustavo López.
2-0. 64. Vagner. First time shot into top corner of net as ball came out of area.
2-1. 88. Yeste. Beat offside trap to take through ball and shoot past keeper.

Celta moved up to sixth in a table after breaking two club records for the first division, five victories in a row and eleven games without defeat. Only three months ago the Vigo based side were struggling near the foot of the table, but the club kept faith with manager Víctor Fernández and in the end their confidence paid off. Fernández brought back his stars for this match, only missing Mostovoi and Giovanella who were suspended, with Vagner returning from his one match ban and Pinto taking over in goal.

Bilbao have been going through a bad patch, with only three points from their last four games. Even so there was no place in the side for Julen Guerrero, the captain taking a seat on the substitutes' bench for the second week in a row, and with Urzaiz still injured Ezquerro played up front again alongside Etxeberria. After an early flurry, with Lafuente saving from a Gustavo López free kick, Bilbao started to get into gear, although without Urzaiz they were lacking a focal point in attack. Tiko wasted a couple of chances in the first half and Felipe and Ezquerro missed scoring opportunities in the second with only Pinto to beat. At the other end Catanha also shot weakly at Lafuente late in the first half, but he finally beat the Basque keeper just before the break after Gustavo López made himself some space on the left to cross.

Vagner added a second in the second half with a first time shot through a crowded penalty area which left Lafuente with no chance and the game was virtually over. Txetxu Rojo's frustration was evident and he earned himself a yellow card from referee Pérez Burrull for protesting. In the last couple of minutes substitute Yeste finally found the back of the net, but it was too late and after Tiko blasted another chance over the bar the game ended. Celta move a point ahead of Villarreal, and are now only six points away from the Champions League spots. Athletic drop to twelfth, and their dreams of European football for next season are all but over.