Celta 2 - Betis 1

Celta: Pinto; Angel, Tamas, Contreras, Placente; Pablo García, Oubiña; Gustavo López, Canobbio (Antonio Nuñez 80'), Nené (Guayre 69'); Baiano. 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Contreras; Ilic, Melli, Juanito, Isidoro; Juande, Rivera, Capi; Odonkor (Miguel Angel 64'), Robert (Fernando 64'), Edu (Sobis 73'). 4-3-3.

Team changes: Celta: Pinto for Esteban / Betis: Melli, Juande, Rivera, Robert for Nano, Vogel, Marcos Assunçao, Sobis.

Goals:
0-1. 30. Robert. Got on the end of Odonkor's cross to turn ball past Pinto.
1-1. 42. Gustavo López. Picked up Baiano pass and shot low inside near post.
2-1. 94. Baiano (penalty). After Nuñez fell under challenge from Contreras.

Celta came in to their game with Betis knowing that only a win could give them any hope of survival. And although they struggled, in the end a controversial injury time penalty gave them a 2-1 victory. Robert put the visitors in front on the half hour mark after a rapid run down the right wing by Odonkor, but Gustavo López made it all square before the break with a shot which squeezed inside Contreras's near post. And a couple of minutes later things swung more in favour of the Galicians when Capi was sent off by referee Velasco Carballo after picking up two silly yellow cards in succession, the first for arguing and the second for kicking the ball away.

Velasco's actions also upset visiting coach Luis Fernández, who himself was sent to the stands early in the second half for protesting. Baiano fired a shot over the bar as the locals looked to gain the advantage, but Betis themselves had a couple of chances, Pinto having to push a long shot from Rivera over the bar and Juanito also heading over following a corner. With the game in the fourth minute of injury time though Contreras came out to clear, and he appeared to catch Nuñez as he played the ball, the winger exaggerating his fall. Velasco bought it, and Baiano converted the penalty kick to take his side within four points of their opponents. Still a long way to go, but Stoichkov's side are not dead yet.