Valladolid 1 - Celta 2

Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez, García Calvo, Heinze, Marcos; Caminero (Fernando Sales 46'), Turiel (Ciric 77'), Ricchetti, Antonio López (Pachón 63'); Fernando; Alberto. 4-4-1-1.
Celta: Pinto; Velasco, Yago, Cáceres, Juanfran (Karpin 46'); Giovanella, Jayo; Jesuli (Gustavo López 60'), McCarthy (Pablo Couñago 60'), Edu; Catanha. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valladolid: Caminero, Turiel, Ricchetti, Antonio López, Alberto for Peña, Fernando Sales, Jesús, Eusebio, Pachón / Celta: Pinto, Yago, Jayo, Jesuli, Edu, McCarthy for Cavallero, Berizzo, Vagner, Karpin, Mostovoi, Gustavo López.

Goals:
1-0. 01. Fernando (penalty). After Cáceres brought down Alberto in area.
1-1. 64. Gustavo López. Ran through from own half to beat keeper with low shot.
1-2. 69. Catanha. Ran in together with Edu to head Karpin's cross past keeper.

Valladolid's unbeaten home record finally went against an improving Celta, leaving Deportivo La Coruña as the only undefeated team in their own stadium this season. And that was despite scoring with the quickest penalty on record in Spain, referee Medina Cantalejo ruling that Cáceres had fouled Alberto with only thirteen seconds on the clock. Fernando's penalty gave them an early advantage which they were unable to capitalize on in the first half which they dominated against a Celta side missing many of their key players. Víctor Fernández had decided to rest many of his first choice players having played a tiring match against Barcelona in the UEFA cup on Thursday night, with a second leg to come in a few days time. His midfield trio of Karpin, Mostovoi and Gustavo López were all left out of the starting line up, as was Berizzo, the suspended Vagner and the injured Cavallero.

Pancho Ferraro also made five changes, with Jesús suspended and Eusebio rested, and he went back to his normal 4-4-2 line up after his experiment with three central defenders failed at Osasuna last week. Alberto's return in attack appeared to be a good move after he won the penalty, but an attempt to get a second just before the break earned him a second yellow card for diving and a sending off. Víctor spotted his opportunity and brought on the big guns, Karpin coming on at half time and Gustavo López soon after, and the match was transformed.

Gustavo López in particular was an inspiration, and he made it all square with an individualist goal only four minutes after coming on. Five minutes later it was Karpin's turn, and his cross found Catanha (and/or Edu?) for him to remind everyone that he was still around. It was enough to take the three points, and took Celta back up to the top half of the table above their rivals. Sixth place Villarreal are now only four points away and they still have hope of European football, although they have this year's tournament to worry about first with the visit of Barcelona imminent. Valladolid look safe for this year, but they really need a goalscorer to get them out of trouble when they need it. They can start polishing the cheque books for this summer.