August 24, Balaídos Stadium, Vigo: In an exhilarating encounter at Balaídos Stadium, Celta Vigo secured a 3-1 victory over Valencia in their La Liga 2024-2025 clash. The match showcased a blend of tactical prowess, individual brilliance, and high drama that captivated fans throughout.
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Celta Vigo vs Valencia CF First Half: Valencia Takes the Early Lead
Valencia made a strong start to the match, with Diego López opening the scoring in the 14th minute. López’s header from close range, assisted by Rafa Mir’s accurate delivery from a corner, gave the visitors an early 1-0 lead. The goal set the tone for an engaging first half as Valencia sought to build on their advantage.
However, Celta Vigo responded with impressive resilience. In the 23rd minute, Óscar Mingueza leveled the score for Celta Vigo. Mingueza’s right-footed shot from a challenging angle on the left side of the penalty area was expertly placed into the high center of the goal, leaving Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili with no chance.
Just five minutes later, Celta Vigo took control of the match with a second goal from their captain, Iago Aspas. Aspas’ left-footed strike from outside the box was precise and powerful, finding the bottom left corner of the net. The goal, assisted by Mingueza, underscored the effective attacking partnership between the two Celta Vigo players.
The first half was not without its controversies. In the dying moments of the half, Celta Vigo was awarded a penalty after Hugo Duro handled the ball in the penalty area. Despite the high expectations, Iago Aspas’ penalty was saved by Mamardashvili, leaving the score at 2-1 as the teams headed into the break.
Half-Time Score: Celta Vigo 2 – 1 Valencia
Celta Vigo vs Valencia CF Second Half: Celta Vigo Extends Their Lead
The second half began with Celta Vigo looking to consolidate their lead. Fran Beltrán, who had been a key midfield presence, scored a spectacular goal in the 60th minute. Beltrán’s right-footed shot from outside the box curled into the top right corner of the net, leaving Mamardashvili rooted to the spot. This goal effectively sealed the game, pushing Celta Vigo’s lead to 3-1.
Valencia tried to mount a comeback with several attacking efforts. Rafa Mir was particularly active, heading a shot off the right post in the 82nd minute. Despite their best efforts, including attempts from Luis Rioja and André Almeida, Valencia struggled to break down Celta Vigo’s resilient defense.
The match saw a series of substitutions and tactical adjustments. Celta Vigo brought on Borja Iglesias and Jonathan Bamba in the 65th minute to add fresh legs and maintain their advantage. Valencia made several changes as well, including introducing Martín Tejón and Dani Gómez in an attempt to inject new energy into their attack.
The final moments of the match were marked by additional drama. Jonathan Bamba received a yellow card for a foul, and there were several free kicks and corner kicks awarded to both teams. Despite a few close calls, including a shot from Luis Rioja that missed to the left, Valencia could not find the back of the net again.
Full-Time Score: Celta Vigo 3 – 1 Valencia
Celta Vigo vs Valencia CF Lineup and Tactical Overview
Celta Vigo (3-4-3):
- Starting XI: Iván Villar; Carlos Domínguez, Jailson, Javi Rodríguez; Óscar Mingueza, Fran Beltrán, Damián Rodríguez, Hugo Álvarez; Williot Swedberg, Anastasios Douvikas, Iago Aspas
- Substitutes: Sergio Carreira, Borja Iglesias, Jonathan Bamba, Marc Vidal, Hugo Sotelo, Vicente Guaita, Joseph Aidoo
Valencia (4-4-2):
- Starting XI: Giorgi Mamardashvili; Jesús Vázquez, Yarek Gasiorowski, Cristhian Mosquera, Thierry Correia; Dimitri Foulquier, Javi Guerra, Pepelu, Luis Rioja; Hugo Duro, André Almeida
- Substitutes: Rodrigo Abajas, Hugo Guillamón, César Tárrega, Cenk Özkacar, David Otorbi, Raúl Jiménez, Stole Dimitrievski
Celta Vigo vs Valencia CF Stats
- Possession: Celta Vigo 48.7%, Valencia 51.3%
- Shots on Goal: Celta Vigo 5, Valencia 5
- Shot Attempts: Celta Vigo 7, Valencia 13
- Fouls: Celta Vigo 9, Valencia 11
- Yellow Cards: Celta Vigo 3, Valencia 0
- Red Cards: Celta Vigo 0, Valencia 0
- Corner Kicks: Celta Vigo 4, Valencia 7
- Saves: Celta Vigo 3, Valencia 2
Celta Vigo vs Valencia CF Fouls and Discipline
Celta Vigo’s aggressive style led to several fouls, with notable fouls by Óscar Mingueza and Damián Rodríguez. Valencia also accumulated a number of fouls, with Hugo Duro’s handball resulting in the penalty that could have equalized the match.
The match saw a blend of excellent attacking play and solid defensive work, with Celta Vigo emerging as the deserving winners. Fans can look forward to more exciting La Liga action as the season progresses.
