Celta 3 - Villarreal 1

Celta: Cavallero; Velasco, Cáceres, Berizzo, Juanfran; Luccin, Vagner (Doriva 72'); Karpin, Edú (McCarthy 79'), Jesuli; Catanha (Coira 90'). 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Galván (Xavi Roca 89'), Unai, Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Jorge López (Craioveanu 49'), Galca (Amor 49'), Xavi Gracia, Cagna; Víctor, Guayre. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Celta: Vagner, Edú for Doriva, Gustavo López / Villarreal: Unai, Xavi Gracia, Guayre for Berruet, Calleja, Palermo.

Goals:
1-0. 08. Jesuli. First time volley after Karpin floated in pass from left of area.
2-0. 50. Edú. From close up after defence failed to clear corner from right.
3-0. 52. Edú. Header into top of net following long ball in from Karpin.
3-1. 57. Guayre. Placed shot past keeper after Craioveanu played ball back.

Celta moved back up to sixth with their second league win in a row, beating Villarreal 3-1 in the last game on Sunday. It was a welcome relief for the Gallicians, who were knocked out of the cup midweek by second division Salamanca, and fans had been wondering whether their victory against Espanyol last weekend was just a flash in the pan after poor recent form. In the absence of the suspended Mostovoi and the injured Gustavo López, youngsters Jesuli and Edú took their opportunity to lead their side to victory. It was Jesuli opened the scoring in the eighth minute with his fourth goal in five games, volleying home Karpin´s cross without letting the ball hit the ground, and Luccin came close to increasing the scoreline a couple of times before the break.

Víctor Muñoz was missing his top striker Martín Palermo, who broke his leg in a bizarre accident midweek when a wall collapsed on him as fans rushed forward to celebrate his goal in the cup tie at Levante, and under 21 international Guayre took his place. The manager was clearly not happy with his line up from the first half, and shortly after the break he decided to ring the changes, bringing on Amor and Craioveanu. Rather than improve things though it made matters worse, and before they had time to settle Edú had taken advantage to belt home the second goal from Karpin's corner, and then add another two minutes later with a powerful header. Guayre did get one back soon afterwards, his first goal for his new club, but they fall away from the top spots, albeit holding on to ninth place in view of the results around them.