Valencia 0 - Celta 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Ayala (Marchena 60'), Pellegrino, Carboni; Albelda, Baraja; Rufete, Aimar (Juan Sánchez 85'), Vicente; Carew (Mista 65'). 4-2-3-1.
Celta: Cavallero; Velasco (Coudet 83'), Cáceres, Berizzo, Sylvinho; Giovanella (José Ignacio 60'), Luccin; Vagner, Mostovoi, Jesuli (Edu 62'); Catanha. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Ayala, Carboni, Carew for Marchena, Fabio Aurelio, Mista / Celta: Giovanella, Vagner for José Ignacio, Gustavo López.

Goals:
0-1. 90. Vagner. Forced ball home after Cañizares blocked his penalty kick.

Valencia lost their table topping battle with Miguel Angel Lotina's Celta, who move above them into first place in the table. It was a hard game, with referee Rodríguez Santiago dishing out twelve yellow cards (including nine for Celta) and awarding three penalties, all of which were saved. Lotina has given more defensive grit to the Gallician side, and they needed it as Valencia piled on the pressure in the opening minutes. Baraja, Rufete and Carew went close, and Cavallero made a reaction save from a Carew header before the first penalty was awarded shortly before half time when Berizzo pushed over Carew. Cavallero guessed that Baraja would hit it to his left though, and saved the kick.

Celta managed to break down all the Valencia attacks after the break, and Benítez brought on Mista who shot wide from outside of the area. Then Berizzo gave away a second penalty ten minutes from the end, forcing over Rufete, although the referee let him off a second booking which would have left his side a man short. Baraja stepped up again to take the kick, but although he changed sides Cavallero again dived to collect the ball. And then in the last minute Cañizares brought down substitute Coudet as he charged through, and once again Rodríguez pointed to the spot. With Mostovoi and Catanha missing penalties in previous matches it was left to Vagner to take the kick, and although Cañizares blocked the shot, the Brazilian midfielder got to the rebound first to force it under the keeper. Maybe not deserved, but iIt was Celta's first win in the Mestalla stadium in 20 years, and takes them top of the pile for now.