Celta 4 - Espanyol 1

Celta: Cavallero; Velasco (Coira 80'), Cáceres, Berizzo, Juanfran; Luccin (Vagner 80'), Doriva; Jesuli, Karpin, Gustavo López (Edú 67'); Catanha. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Mora; Lopo, Soldevilla, Rotchen, Ricardo Cavas; Morales, Roger (Oscar 72'); Velamazán (Palencia 58'), Martín Posse, De Lucas (Iván Díaz 72'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Celta: Velasco, Jesuli for Yago, Silvinho / Espanyol: Rotchen, Morales, Velamazán for Fran, Alex Fernández, Raúl Vates.

Goals:
0-1. 16. Tamudo (penalty). After Juanfran fouled Martín Posse from behind.
1-1. 23. Catanha. Touched ball into net after Berizzo headed back Karpin free kick. 2-1. 37. Jesuli. Ran on to long ball from midfield to shoot low past keeper.
3-1. 53. Catanha. From close range after Karpin square pass from right.
4-1. 71. Edú. Ran along front of area before shooting inside near post.

Celta closed back up on the top teams with their first win in six games, a 4-1 victory over Espanyol. They fell behind though early on to a Tamudo penalty after Juanfran fouled Posse, and knowing their propensity to self destruct round about this stage of the season, the home fans started to despair. However from that point on they took control of the game, and soon afterwards they were level after Catanha made sure as Berizzo's headed the ball towards goal. The rest of the half belonged to the home side, and it was no surprise when Jesuli beat Mora, who had kept his place despite the return of Argensó from a one match ban.

Catanha added his second after the break, his first goals in over a month which nevertheless take him to joint top scorer in the league with Diego Tristán on seven. Paco Flores changed his midfield, bringing on Palencia, Iván Díaz and Oscar, who replaced his brother Roger for his first appearance after recovering from a long term injury. But it was Celta's substitute Edu who struck last, confidently beating Mora with a shot from the edge of the area. The defeat takes Espanyol back down to fifteenth, only two points above the relegation spots, and once again the moaners come out of their closets at the Catalan club. Flores needs a good result or two to be able to keep them quiet for a bit.