RC Celta beat Deportivo Alavés (2-1) this Friday in the first round of LaLiga EA Sports, turning around a match that did not start well at all, thanks to a good second half and the decisive goal by Iago Aspas, who was the protagonist in Balaídos.
The debut for both was a continuation of last season, when Alavés beat Celta 3-0 at the end of April. With Mihailo Ristic out at the last minute, but with Mingueza on the sidelines, Claudio Giráldez’s team wanted to make a good start but soon found it difficult against a demanding opponent.
It would have been much more so if Iago Aspas had been sent off after six minutes due to a direct red card. Referee Quintero González sent him off for a blow to Antonio Blanco off the ball, but the VAR convinced him to change his mind. Celta never got over the scare because in the 17th minute, a great cross from Blanco was headed into the net by Kike García to make it 0-1 at Balaídos.
The home side once again looked for long balls and little by little found spaces against an Alavés that seemed to have run too much for 16 de agosto. The script changed and Celta managed to score 1-1, but ‘what the VAR gives you, the VAR takes away’: an offside by millimetres prevented Aspas from scoring.
A new ‘tool’ that will be much talked about, the semi-automatic offside, ruined a beautiful combination by Celta, but Giráldez’s men maintained their improvement towards the break. Then, the triple change by the home team helped Celta to reach the rival area better, better connection inside with Jailson and the instinct of a Williot who scored the 1-1 after the hour mark.
Luis García also made his move and Luis Rioja threatened the visiting team on more than one occasion, Stoichkov and Villalibre in the middle. Celta responded with their depth until Aspas made up for the disallowed goal with great quality in the 2-1, with Mingueza looking for the inside and the pass from Williot.
The first three points stayed in Vigo, well celebrated as an illusion for a year that should be better than the last ones of suffering at the bottom. Alavés, who have been more than fulfilling their objective, returned empty-handed, although their good minutes were many and what has come this market points to being profitable.