Celta Vigo 0 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Celta: Cavallero; Velasco, Cáceres (José Ignacio 55'), Berizzo (Coudet 78'), Sylvinho; Vagner, Luccin; Edu (Kaviedes 55'), Mostovoi, Jesuli; McCarthy. 4-2-3-1.
Rayo: Etxeberria; Mauro, Corino, Mainz, Graff; Onopko; Julio Alvarez (Marqués 53'), Azkoitia, Mora, Peragón (Helder 70'); Bolo (Bolic 75'). 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Celta: Edu, McCarthy for Giovanella, Catanha / Rayo: Mauro, Mora for Mario, Bolic.

Goals:
0-1. 06. Bolo. Beat keeper with diving header from long Mora pass.

Last week's leaders Celta drop to second after losing 0-1 at home to Rayo Vallecano. The Madrid based club have become a bit of a bête noir for the Gallician side having not lost in Balaidos in the last four years, and Fernando Vázquez brought back the man who had done most of the damage in that time, Bolo, leaving out Bolic to make room for an extra midfielder Mora. It proved to be an inspired decision, as the Basque striker threw himself forward to meet Mora's long ball in the sixth minute and score in front of a passive defence with a spectacular header. It was his fourth in five visits to Vigo, and by coincidence all have been at the same end.

Celta's dogged resistance at Valencia in their last game made one think that they had the mettle to come back, but apart from a possible penalty on Edu, which referee Pérez Burrull inexplicably said was outside of the area, they hardly troubled Etxeberría in the first 45 minutes. Then five minutes after the restart Pérez sent off Celta's Benni McCarthy for a tackle from behind on Azkoitia, leaving the home side with ten men. With Catanha out injured, Lotina turned to Kaviedes to lead the attack, but the Ecuadorian striker failed to take his opportunity and did little better than his South African colleague.

Celta did eventually get the ball in the net, Jesuli collecting a long pass to beat Etxeberría, but Pérez ruled it out for the positional offside of a Celta attacker who did not appear to be interfering in the play. But it was a disappointing performance from the Sky Blues, and Azkoitia went close to adding to their humiliation when he brought the save of the night out of Cavallero near the end. It was Celta's first defeat of the season, which in the end was not so bad as non of the teams around them won either. Rayo proved they are vulnerable though, and they move up to twelfth in the table, safe for the time being at least.