Celta Vigo staged a stirring second-half comeback to edge Valencia 3-2 at Estadio de Mestalla, a result that strengthens their European qualification push and leaves the hosts marooned in mid-table in this La Liga Regular Season - 30 clash.
Valencia, sitting 13th at kick-off and looking to consolidate a top-half challenge, struck first. On 12 minutes, Guido Rodríguez seized control of a loose ball on the edge of the area and drove a precise low finish beyond Ionuț Radu to make it 1-0. The early breakthrough rewarded the home side’s aggressive start in a 4-4-2, with Hugo Duro and Largie Ramazani stretching Celta Vigo’s back three.
Celta, sixth at the start of the day and firmly in the European qualification battle, initially struggled to convert their territorial dominance into clear chances. They enjoyed more of the ball throughout (58% possession) but were limited to half-openings, with Stole Dimitrievski dealing comfortably with the few efforts that found his target in the first period.
The visitors’ frustrations began to show before the interval. In the 43rd minute, Javi Rodríguez went into the referee’s book after a late challenge. One minute later, Marcos Alonso followed him with a yellow card for roughing, underlining a tense end to the half as Valencia protected their slender lead. The hosts went into the break 1-0 up, their compact shape and sharp transitions keeping Celta at arm’s length.
Claudio Giraldez reacted decisively at half-time, reshaping his attack with a triple substitution as the second half kicked off. At 46 minutes, Jones El-Abdellaoui came on for J. Rodriguez, Williot Swedberg came on for H. Alvarez, and Fer López came on for P. Duran. The changes injected pace and creativity into Celta’s front line and would soon transform the contest.
The equaliser arrived on 56 minutes. Ilaix Moriba, increasingly influential in midfield, surged into space and, after a neat exchange on the edge of the box, fired past Dimitrievski to make it 1-1. The goal was the product of Celta’s renewed intensity and higher pressing, pinning Valencia back in their own half.
Four minutes later, the comeback was complete. In the 60th minute, Fer López scored, assisted by W. Swedberg, finishing off a slick move as Swedberg slipped him through the inside-right channel. López kept his composure to slide the ball into the far corner, turning the scoreline to 2-1 in favour of the visitors and silencing Mestalla.
Carlos Corberan responded with a flurry of substitutions on 63 minutes to regain control. Umar Sadiq came on for H. Duro, Filip Ugrinić came on for U. Nunez, T. Rendall came on for A. Almeida, and L. Beltran came on for J. Guerra. The changes shifted Valencia’s shape and added fresh legs in midfield and attack, but Celta continued to manage the tempo.
Celta’s discipline wavered briefly when H. Sotelo was booked for a foul in the 71st minute, moments before another attacking reinforcement. At the same 71-minute mark, Borja Iglesias came on for F. Jutgla, offering a focal point up front as Celta looked to kill the game.
Valencia made their final attacking roll of the dice on 78 minutes, when A. Danjuma came on for J. Gaya, pushing the hosts into an even more adventurous setup. Yet it was Celta who struck again. In the 81st minute, W. Swedberg scored, assisted by I. Moriba, guiding a composed finish into the net after Moriba’s incisive pass split the defence. At 3-1, the visitors appeared out of sight.
Tension flared late on. Guido Rodríguez received a yellow card for roughing in the 84th minute as Valencia’s frustration grew. Celta then made a final defensive-minded switch on 88 minutes, with Y. Lago coming on for O. Mingueza to shore up the flanks and see out the win.
Valencia refused to fold, and deep into stoppage time they found a lifeline. In the 90+3 minute, G. Rodriguez scored, assisted by U. Sadiq, latching onto Sadiq’s lay-off to drive home his second of the afternoon and reduce the deficit to 3-2. It set up a frantic finale but came too late to salvage a point.
Statistics
Statistically, Celta’s efficiency told. They generated 1.04 expected_goals from 9 total shots, 5 of them on target, forcing Dimitrievski into 2 saves. Valencia, despite 13 total shots and 4 on goal, produced just 0.81 expected_goals and could not turn pressure into clear-cut chances, with Radu also making 2 saves. Celta blocked 2 Valencia efforts, while the visitors themselves had 1 shot blocked.
The result nudges Celta Vigo’s tally to 47 points, with their goals for rising to 47 and goals against to 39, tightening their grip on a European qualification place. Valencia remain on 35 points, now with 36 goals for and 48 against, still entrenched in a mid-table battle and ruing a home lead that slipped away in a devastating second-half spell.
