Celta 3 - Real Madrid 0

Celta: Cavallero; Velasco, Djorovic, Cáceres, Juanfran; Giovanella, Vagner; Edu (Jayo 61'), Mostovoi, Gustavo López (Jesuli 88'); Catanha (Pablo Couñago 80'). 4-2-3-1.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Iván Campo, Iván Helguera (Guti 61'), Roberto Carlos; Celades, Flavio Conceiçao (Munitis 71'); Figo, Savio, Solari; Raúl. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Celta: Giovanella for Berizzo / Madrid: Iván Helguera, Celades, Savio, Solari for Karanka, Makelele, McManaman, Guti.

Goals:
1-0. 13. Juanfran. Ran on to Mostovoi pass to beat Casillas from edge of area.
2-0. 25. Gustavo López. Shot into top corner of net after short Mostovoi free kick.
3-0. 95. Jesuli. Beat Casillas from left of area after precise Mostovoi through ball.

Leaders Real Madrid fielded a weakened side and paid the price, losing to the league's most on-form side Celta by three clear goals. Needing to rest tired players before next Wednesday night's vital Champions League semi-final, Del Bosque left out Hierro, Karanka, Makelele, Guti and McManaman from his first choice starting line up, with Helguera finally playing in a more defensive position despite carrying an injury. However their replacements never got into the rhythm, and when Roberto Carlos was sent off midway through the first half (the first Madrid player sent off all season) after picking up two rigorous yellow cards in the space of a minute from referee Fernández Marín there was no way back.

Celta had taken an early lead through Juanfran who beat Casillas with a first time shot after Mostovoi had headed the ball into a gap between two defenders. A minute before Iván Campo had cleared off the line from Catanha, and at the other end Cavallero had saved at point blank range from Salgado. However Celta went two up immediately after the Roberto Carlos red card, Mostovoi laying the ball across from the resulting free kick to Gustavo López, who found a hole in the defensive wall to drive the ball into the top corner of the net. Raúl brought a good save out of Cavallero close to half time, but after the break Celta came out strongly, with Casillas blocking a shot from Edu and Catanha heading over.

But then Fernández Marín evened up the numbers, suggesting he has something against Brazilians with another two rapid yellow cards for Celta's Giovanella. Jayo came on for Edu to fill the gap, but still Celta came forward, with Catanha heading against the post with Casillas beaten. Del Bosque brought on Guti and Munitis, with Celades dropping back to cover for Helguera, and in the last ten minutes Madrid had their best moments of the match, Cavallero called upon twice to save from Raúl and Munitis. But as the game ran into the fifth minute of stoppage time Mostovoi once again breached the shaky Madrid defence with a pinpoint pass for late substitute Jesuli to shoot low past Casillas.

For the fifth season in a row Madrid had lost at the Balaidos stadium, and although their nine point lead at the top of the table (pending Sunday's results) is still virtually unassailable, their recent form is causing some concern, especially having lost their first Champions League match at home against Bayern Munich midweek. Celta go from strength to strength, and close up to within two points of fifth placed Barcelona with the best record in the league in the second half of the season. They have taken seven points from the big three, and should now be well on line for a return to Europe next season.