Celta 3 - Valencia 2

Celta: Pinto; Angel, Lequi, Tamas, Placente; Oubiña, Iriney; Gustavo López (Antonio Nuñez 21'), Canobbio, Nené (Contreras 82'); Baiano (Jesús Perera 76'). 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares, Miguel, David Navarro, Ayala, Moretti; Albelda, Edu; Angulo (Joaquín 56'), David Silva (Gavilán 56'), Vicente (Morientes 26'); David Villa. 4-2-3-1

Team changes: Celta: Angel, Lequi for Jonathan Aspas, Contreras / Valencia: Miguel, Ayala, Angulo, David Silva, Vicente for Curro Torres, Raúl Albiol, Joaquín, Gavilán, Morientes.

Goals:
0-1. 40. David Navarro. Glancing header into roof of net from David Villa free kick.
1-1. 43. Baiano. Picked up Canobbio reverse pass and hit angled shot past keeper.
2-1. 51. Iriney. First time volley from outside area which looped up off defender.
3-1. 55. Canobbio. Long shot from wide on left which bounced under Cañizares.
3-2. 62. Morientes. Lifted shot wide of Pinto after defence failed to clear pass.

Valencia lost ground on leaders Barcelona after losing 3-2 to Celta, their first defeat of the season. The Galicians started well, Oubiña poking a shot against the post and Baiano and Canobbio both trying their luck. Five minutes before the break though David Navarro headed the visitors in to the lead from David Villa's free kick, but before the half time whistle Baiano had equalised after running on to a reverse pass from Canobbio to fire an angled shot low past Cañizares.

Within ten minutes of the restart Celta scored two more, Iriney's volley flying off a defender and up in to the net and Canobbio's long shot squeezing through the usually safe hands of Cañizares. Morientes got one back soon afterwards, Lequi failing to clear a pass from the by-line and Joaquín stepping over the ball to give the ex Real Madrid and Liverpool striker time to beat Pinto.

The local keeper made an important save from Edu later on though, and Morientes and Villa both wasted chances to equalise before the end. But the Chés' challenge ended when Gavilán was sent off after picking up a second booking in injury time, and the hosts picked up three points which took them away from the danger zone for now. Coach Fernando Vázquez wasn't in the dugout to celebrate the victory though; he had been sent off once again at half time by referee Iturralde González after making remarks to his infamous linesman Rafa Guerrero!