Mallorca 2 - Celta 0

Mallorca: Miki; Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler; Finidi, Marcos, Francisco Soler (Novo 75'), Ibagaza (Carreras 80'); Eto'o, Luque. 4-4-2.
Celta: Cavallero; Velasco, Djorovic, Cáceres, Juanfran (Berizzo 33'); Jayo (Edu 60'), Vagner; Karpin (Jesuli 70'), Mostovoi, Gustavo López; Catanha. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Mallorca: Miki, Finidi for Mono Burgos, Armando / Celta: Jayo, Karpin for Giovanella, Edu.

Goals:
1-0. 47. Finidi. Headed down in off post after Ibagaza corner from right.
2-0. 90. Finidi. Headed back past Cavallero after Novo cross from right.

Mallorca ran out winners in a game between the two most on-form sides in the league at the moment. Both were pushing for a victory to consolidate their challenges for the European spots, Mallorca hoping to secure a Champions League place and Celta looking to hold on to sixth position which ensures their participation in the UEFA cup. The previous games between these clubs this season were full of controversy, with Celta knocking their opponents out of the Spanish cup in a bad tempered two legged tie which saw three Mallorca players sent off and constant brawls between the players, and the league match at Balaidos earlier in the year ended in a 2-2 draw after referee Turienzo Alvarez disallowed three goals for the Balearic Island side. As a result the game was declared high risk, but in the end the players decided to bury the hatchet and referee Undiano Mallenco had relatively few problems throughout the 90 minutes, except for a couple of hard tackles in the first half by Catanha and another by Juanfran (in which he picked up a yellow card and injured himself at the same time), and a little bust up after Berizzo went in on the keeper after a Mostovoi free kick in the second.

Both sides used their full quota of non-EU players, with Celta's Víctor Fernández opting to play Vagner, Jayo and Djorovic, leaving Edu and McCarthy on the bench as the now 'community B' player Karpin returned from injury. Luis Aragonés did not have to make any such decisions as Burgos was still injured, and with Leo Franco and Roa also out, fourth choice keeper Miki Garro made his full debut in the Mallorca goal, with Finidi returning to the side to join the other two non-EU players Ibagaza and Eto'o. Finidi's return was to prove the deciding factor, the Nigerian forward scoring both goals in the second half to give his side revenge at last over the Gallicians.

The first half belonged to the home side, with Marcos taking over the role of the injured Engonga as leader of the team and the back four as usual very solid. Cavallero saved well from Luque and Finidi, and Eto'o was unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when the keeper brought him down in the area just before the interval. Within two minutes of the restart Mallorca were in front though, Finidi heading Ibagaza's corner across Cavallero and in off the far post. Celta improved in the second half after Edu and then Jesuli came on, Miki having to make a couple of good saves from Catanha and Jesuli. At the other end Eto'o ran the ball out when he should have done better, but in injury time Finidi got on the end of a cross from substitute Novo to steer the ball back past Cavallero. The victory means that Mallorca catch up with Valencia in third place, and more importantly maintain the three point gap ahead of Barcelona. Even if they don't make the Champions League they will be fairly sure of a place in the UEFA cup, now eight points ahead of Celta who can feel the breath of Málaga, Villarreal and Alavés on the back of their necks after this defeat.