Celta 2 - Mallorca 0

Celta: Cavallero; Velasco, Cáceres, Berizzo, Juanfran; Karpin, Luccin; Edu (Boban 70'), Mostovoi, Jesuli (Gustavo López 65'); Catanha (McCarthy 91'). 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco (Miki 46'); Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler; Marcos, Paco Soler; Campano (Biagini 46'), Paunovic (Carlos 65'), Cristian Díaz; Eto'o. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Celta: Berizzo, Edú for Sergio, Giovanella / Mallorca: Paco Soler, Paunovic for Engonga, Luque.

Goals:
1-0. 41. Edu. Far post header after Mostovoi crossed high ball from right.
2-0. 84. Catanha. Following up after long Mostovoi shot hit crossbar.

Celta moved a point clear at the top of the first division with a 2-0 victory over Mallorca. Both managers made changes to their sides in view of next week's European competitions, with Víctor leaving out Giovanella and Gustavo López and Krauss keeping Engonga and Luque on the bench. The game started evenly, with Paco Soler shooting just wide for the visitors and Mostovoi putting an effort over the bar. The Russian midfielder was lucky not to give away a penalty when referee Lopez Nieto failed to see the ball hit his hand in the area, especially as he picked up what would have been a second yellow card in the second half.

The presence of the Tzar though was once again vital to Celta's interests, and as well as running the show from midfield he had an important hand in setting up both the goals. The first came after Leo Franco had turned his shot around for a corner, Edu heading home his cross after his dead ball kick was rejected. And then when the game was coming to a close he caught substitute keeper Miki off his line with a long shot, the ball rebounding off the bar to the feet of Catanha who tucked it into the corner of the net for his fourth of the season. Celta hold on to first position for the third week in a row, and have yet to let in a goal this season. Mallorca drop to fourteenth, and the efforts of playing in the Champions League with what is not a very deep squad seem to be taking their toll.