Oviedo 3 - Celta 1

Oviedo: Esteban; Keita, Danjou, Martinovic, Boris (Bango 20'); Amieva (Rubén 85'), Onopko, Tomic, Iván Ania (Rubén Reyes 75'); Losada, Oli. 4-4-2.
Celta: Pinto; Velasco, Cáceres, Djorovic (Edu 80'), Juanfran; Vagner (McCarthy 57'), Doriva; Karpin, Mostovoi (Giovanella 57'), Gustavo López; Catanha. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Oviedo:None / Celta: Juanfran, Vagner, Catanha for Manolo, Giovanella, McCarthy.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Losada. Played one-two with Tomic and drove ball past Pinto.
2-0. 43. Oli. Took headed pass from Losada, controlled and shot into corner.
2-1. 70. Giovanella. Followed up loose ball and blasted past keeper.
3-1. 93. Oli. Header following cross from Rubén Reyes on left wing.

Someone must have put a spell on Celta when they play against Radomir Antic's teams. This is no less than the seventeenth time that the Serbian manager has sat on the opposition bench, and they have not yet won once. This time the Gallicians were not in the game at all, especially in the first half when Oviedo took a two goal lead, and they lost the opportunity to return to the head of the table with their most disappointing display to date. Their manager Víctor Fernández, who got his first opportunity in management as Antic's assistant at Zaragoza twelve years ago, put out a full strength side as well despite having an important UEFA cup match in Belgrade against Red Star the following Thursday. Back came Juanfran and Vagner, out of favour last week, with Catanha also returning after a one match suspension and Edu joining the squad for the first time after his return from Sydney with the Brazilian squad. Antic kept faith in the same starting eleven as in recent games, and they are starting to have some success after started the season badly.

With this victory the Asturian team have now picked up seven points in three games, and the new 'Nuevo Tartiere' stadium is starting to be as successful as the old one last season, when their home form towards the end saved them from relegation. A record 23,000 crowd turned up for this game, and they cheered on their side as they dominated play for the first three-quarters of the match. There was some concern before the match about Onopko, playing with a head protection after a bad cut last week, and although he came through the 90 minutes unscathed, Oviedo did lose their under 21 defender Boris early in the game. That was not a problem, and although Catanha did go close with a scissors kick before substitute Bango had time to settle, Losada, Oli and company did not give them another chance. The front pair were on splendid form, with 'Chino' Losada getting the first goal and combining with Oli for him to score the second, his first goal in his second spell at the club and his first for over a year. Oli dedicated his goal to his friend Petr Dubovsky, who was killed in an accident during the summer, holding up his number 10 shirt in homage.

Celta finally woke up in the second half after a disgusted Víctor changed Vagner and Mostovoi for Giovanella and McCarthy, and Giovanella pulled one back a few minutes after coming on. Referee López Nieto upset the crowd awarding a penalty and booking Pinto for a foul on Oli, and then undoing the whole thing after his linesman confirmed the striker was offside, but Oli made up for it with his second in injury time. Oviedo move up to the top half of the table, only a couple of points and a couple of places behind Celta, who drop out of the UEFA spots to seventh.