Celta Vigo 0 - Valencia 2

Celta: Cavallero; Velasco, Berizzo, Sergio, Israel; Angel (Mostovoi 67'), José Ignacio (Bouzón 81'); Edu, Ilic, Gustavo López (Jesuli 67'); Milosevic. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Marchena, Pellegrino, Carboni; Rufete, Albelda, Baraja, Vicente (Juan Sánchez 92'); Angulo (Xisco 77'), Mista (Sissoko 69'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Celta: Cavallero, Israel, José Ignacio, Edu for Pinto, Sylvinho, Luccin, Mostovoi / Valencia: Pellegrino, Angulo for Ayala, Aimar.

Goals:
0-1. 40. Rufete. Steered shot into net after keeper pushed away Vicente free kick.
0-2. 93. Rufete. Beat Cavallero on rapid counter-attack started by Sissoko.

Second placed Valencia closed to within four points of Real Madrid after a 0-2 win at struggling Celta. Both sides were trying to come back from disappointing results in Europe midweek, but it was the visitors who had the better of the first half, with Albelda failing to beat Cavallero early on and Baraja and Angulo both going close. And five minutes before the break they finally took the lead, Vicente's clever free kick being pushed away at the last second by Cavallero only as far as Rufete, who threaded his shot through a crowd of players and in to the net.

The visitors could have extended their lead after the restart, with Vicente ghosting past three or four players before seeing his shot saved by Cavallero, and Berizzo clearing a Pellegrino header off the line. Radomir Antic eventually brought on Mostovoi and Jesuli, and they at least revived the Galicians, Jesuli in particular going twice on two occasions soon after coming on. And with the game coming to an end Jesuli was held back by Juan Sánchez as he lined up to score. Referee Ramírez Domínguez waved play on however, and with the Celta players still protesting, Sissoko se Rufete away for him to score his second of the night and wrap things up.

The result leaves Celta still down in the bottom three, now five points away from the teams above them. Antic will have to turn things around quickly if they are to stay in the top flight.