Celta Vigo 2 - Barcelona 0

Celta: Cavallero; Velasco, Cáceres, Berizzo, Sylvinho; Luccin, José Ignacio (Vagner 46'); Jesuli, Edu, Gustavo López (Benni McCarthy 88'); Catanha (Mostovoi 62'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Bonano; Puyol, Frank De Boer, Reiziger; Mendieta (Rochemback 65'), Xavi, Iniesta, Cocu; Saviola, Overmars; Kluivert. 3-4-2-1.

Team changes: Real: Celta: Cáceres, Berizzo, Jesuli, Catanha for Jorge Rodríguez, Juanfran, Vagner, Giovanella / Barcelona: Reiziger, Mendieta, Saviola for Gabri, Rochemback, Motta.

Goals:
1-0. 47. Jesuli Ran on to pass from Luccin and rounded keeper to score.
2-0. 73. Sylvinho. Took return pass from Edu and hit spectacular volley from left.

Barcelona manager Louis Van Gaal lost his job after his side were beaten 2-0 by Celta Vigo. The Dutch manager was on an ultimatum after the Catalans had dropped down into the bottom half of the table, but they failed to raise their heads in this match and club president Joan Gaspart had no option under the tide of criticism but to hand him the sack. Despite putting out his strongest available line up, Van Gaal's side should have gone behind in the first half, first of all when Bonano gave the ball away to Catanha who passed in for Jesuli to hit the post, and then when Gustavo López hit a weak penalty at the keeper after Saviola had brought down Edu (their fifth miss in seven penalties this season). The visitors had their chances though, with Xavi also hitting a post and Cavallero making an important double save from Saviola following Mendieta's floated cross near half time.

However Jesuli put Lotina's side ahead in the first minutes after the break, taking a pass from Luccin to cut across the edge of the area and shoot low past Bonano. Kluivert put a good chance wide at the other end, but Celta went two up with a spectacular first time volley from Sylvinho, his shot from left of goal curling wide of the astonished Bonano. By now Celta were on top, with Mostovoi coming on in the second half to lead the side after recovering from his ankle injury, and Edu shot just over the bar after a move involving over twenty consecutive passes by the Gallicians. Overmars hit the post again near the end, and Rochemback tried a couple of long shots which went way off target. But for the seventh time this season in the league Barcelona failed to score, and they end the first half of the season in twelfth position, one of the lowest in their history, only three points above the relegation zone. Celta win their first match in the new year following three defeats, and they stay in sixth place, still on line for a place in Europe next season.