Celta Vigo 0 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Celta: Pinto; Angel, Cáceres, Sergio, Sylvinho; Giovanella Vagner (Catanha 80'); Jonathan (Gustavo López 64'), Jesuli, Juanfran (Mostovoi 73'); Milosevic. 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Lacruz, Karanka, Luis Prieto, Larrazábal; Orbaiz, Oskar Vales; Etxeberría, Jonan García (Bordas 88'), Javi González (Iraola 67'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Celta: Pinto, Giovanella, Jonathan, Juanfran for Cavallero, Méndez, José Ignacio, Mostovoi / Athletic: Larrazábal, Oskar Vales, Jonan García, Javi González for Del Horno, Iraola, Tiko, Ezquerro.

Goals:
0-1. 58. Lacruz. Headed down past keeper from Luis Prieto free kick.
0-2. 91. Iraola. Ran on to Etxeberría through ball to hit low shot across keeper.

Athletic Bilbao move up four places to fourth in the table after a 0-2 win at Celta. It was a big blow for the Galicians, who ended the weekend only one place above the relegation zone, and they need to pick themselves up for their vital Champions League game against Brugge on Wednesday.

Manager Miguel Angel Lotina decided to take action against Mostovoi and Cavallero, both of whom had arrived late from their international commitments, and they found themselves on the bench at the start of the match. Vagner though was given another opportunity, and he brought the best save of the night out of Aranzubia early on. At the other end, Pinto fisted out a long shot from Etxeberría.

Both sides had penalty appeals turned down before half time by referee Rodríguez Santiago, the visitors when the ball hit Sergio on the arm from close up and the locals when Milosevic was tripped by Luis Prieto. But the scoreline didn't move until after the break, when Lacruz heading home a Luis Prieto free kick around the hour mark.

Milosevic thought he had equalised a few minutes after the goal, but Rodríguez ruled out the strike for a non existent offisde. And the referee upset the crowd again later on when substitute Mostovoi fell under Aranzubia's challenge later on. But in the end Athletic scored again when Iraola ran on to Etxeberría's pass, leaving Celta down and out. The pressure is already on the manager to turn things around, otherwise somebody else may be in charge by Christmas.