Real Madrid slump to 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo
Real Madrid's bid for their first title in four years received a severe setback as the European champions slumped to a 3-0 defeat at in-form Celta Vigo in the Spanish first division on Saturday. Fierce first half strikes from Juanfran and Gustavo Lopez and a well-taken injury-time goal from Jesuli gave the Galician club victory.
Real Madrid's bid for their first title in four years received a severe setback as the European champions slumped to a 3-0 defeat at in-form Celta Vigo in the Spanish first division on Saturday. Fierce first half strikes from Juanfran and Gustavo Lopez and a well-taken injury-time goal from Jesuli gave the Galician club victory.
Celta have lost only once in their last 15 outings and the result extended their unbeaten home run against Real to six seasons.
Real, with 69 points from 33 matches, are nine points clear at the top but second-placed Deportivo Coruna can reduce the deficit away to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
An uninspired Valencia, who are third on 59 points, rode their luck to eke out a 2-1 victory over nine-man Real Sociedad.
Slovenian international Zlatko Zahovic gave Champions League semifinalists Valencia the lead midway through the second half but they never looked comfortable against a battling Real.
It took a deflected 83rd-minute strike from Argentine forward Pablo Aimar to give Hector Cuper's side the win after Real had levelled through an Agustin Aranzabal penalty.
Barcelona continued to lose ground in the battle for places in next year's Champions League when they were held to a 0-0 draw in the Catalan derby at Espanyol.
Third-placed Valencia are three points ahead of fourth-placed Real Mallorca, who have played a game fewer. The Balearic islanders are three points ahead of fifth-placed Barcelona.
Real Madrid began as if they had their minds firmly set on Wednesday's Champions League semifinal return leg against Bayern Munich rather than the tricky contest at Celta.
The home side attacked from the first whistle and issued an early warning to the league leaders when a Catanha strike was cleared off the line by Real's Ivan Campo on eight minutes.
A minute later Celta made the most of the gaping holes left by the generous Real defence and took the lead.
Influential Russian midfielder Alexander Mostovoi headed into the path of defender Juanfran, who drilled his fierce first-time strike past Iker Casillas.
Celta monopolised the possession and refused to sit back on their lead. Gustavo Lopez and Juanfran probed on the left and Mostovoi orchestrated a series of attacks through the centre.
Real looked lost without Fernando Hierro, being rested ahead of Wednesday's match against Bayern. And it was a ominous sign that the otherwise anonymous Luis Figo was the man back to block another shot from Juanfran on 22 minutes.
Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos was booked for dissent soon afterwards and only two minutes later received his marching orders for a challenge on Catanha.
Mostovoi touched the ensuing free-kick into the path of Gustavo Lopez, who sent his stinging drive through the Real wall and past a distraught Casillas to make it 2-0 after 25 minutes.
Real had two opportunities to pull a goal back in the dying moments of the first half but Celta keeper Pablo Cavallero made two quality saves to deny Savio and then Raul.
Celta were reduced to 10 men after Brazilian Everton Giovanella received his second booking in the 59th minute but they continued to dominate the match.
Casillas pulled off two sharp saves as he stopped first Edu and then Gustavo Lopez from extending Celta's lead and Catanha hit the post in the 72nd minute.
But Mostovoi intervened in injury-time to slide a perfectly weighted pass to midfielder Jesuli, who hit home to complete Celta's comprehensive 3-0 victory.