Atlético Madrid 2 - Celta 3

Atlético: Leo Franco; Seitaridis (Agüero 56'), Eller, Pablo (Perea 72'), Antonio López; Luccin, Maniche (Gabi 85'); Galletti, Maxi, Petrov; Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.
Celta: Pinto; Angel, Lequi, Contreras, Placente (Yago 34'); Pablo García, Oubiña; Gustavo López (Antonio Nuñez 78'), Canobbio (Jonathan Vila 89'), Nené; Baiano. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Antonio López, Maniche for Pernía, Gabi / Celta: Lequi for Tamas.

Goals:
1-0. 27. Maxi. Struck shot wide of Pinto after Torres headed back long cross.
1-1. 30. Baiano (penalty). After Nené tripped by Seitaridis inside area.
1-2. 47. Yago. Far post header from Nené's corner back over keeper.
1-3. 67. Baiano. Picked up Canobbio pass and turned shot past Leo Franco.
2-3. 70. Maxi. Got on the end of Petrov centre to score from close up.

Celta kept their hopes of survival alive with a 2-3 win at Atlético Madrid, and they are now only a point behind Betis and Athletic Bilbao. Only a victory would do for Stoichkov's side, and they felt themselves unlucky not to take an early lead when Nené beat Leo Franco in the opening minutes only to have the strike ruled out. Fernando Torres tested Pinto though a few minutes later, and midway through the first half the striker headed back Maniche's long cross allowing Maxi to open the scoring.

Three minutes later though Celta were level, Baiano converting a penalty after Seitaridis tripped Nené inside the area. And just two minutes after the restart the visitors took the lead when an unmarked Yago headed Nené's corner into the net. Torres drove a shot just wide soon afterwards, but the locals were left with ten men when Luccin was sent off for kicking Canobbio, and Baiano took advantage to increase the lead a couple of minutes later after Canobbio set him up.

Atlético didn't give up at first, and Maxi got one back from Petrov's cross. But the Galicians were not going to give this one up, and they held on to the end. The defeat left Aguirre's side outside of the UEFA cup spots, two points now behind Zaragoza and Villarreal, and a group of angry radical fans turned on the directors' box after the game demanding the resignation of the president. They may still get back in to the top six if they can win next week, but if not it's on to the Intertoto Cup.