The La Liga encounter between Sevilla and Celta Vigo unfolded as a tense, hard-fought contest decided by a single moment of composure from the penalty spot. In a match filled with tactical battles, strong goalkeeping displays, and mounting pressure in the closing stages, Celta Vigo emerged with a narrow but precious 1–0 away victory.
From the opening whistle, Sevilla looked eager to assert control on home soil. They dominated early possession, circulating the ball patiently across midfield and pushing their fullbacks high to stretch Celta Vigo’s defensive shape. Peque and Juanlu Sánchez were active down the flanks, delivering a series of early crosses that forced Celta’s back line into repeated clearances. Several corners followed in quick succession, but despite the pressure, Sevilla struggled to turn territorial dominance into clear-cut chances.
Celta Vigo, meanwhile, adopted a more measured approach. They were comfortable sitting deep, absorbing pressure, and looking to break quickly through Bryan Zaragoza and Iago Aspas. Aspas, in particular, was influential between the lines, dropping deep to collect the ball and trying to release teammates with clever through passes. One such moment late in the first half saw him find space on the edge of the box, but his effort drifted wide, summing up a frustrating opening 45 minutes for the visitors.
The first half ended scoreless, but not without drama. Both goalkeepers were called into action. Odysseas Vlachodimos dealt confidently with long-range efforts from Celta, while Ionuț Radu remained composed in the Celta goal, claiming crosses and neutralising Sevilla’s aerial threat. The balance of the match remained delicate, with neither side able to land a decisive blow before the interval.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Sevilla continuing to see more of the ball and Celta Vigo growing increasingly dangerous on the counter. Substitutions on both sides added fresh energy, and the tempo rose noticeably as the game entered its final third. Sevilla pushed numbers forward, sensing an opportunity to claim all three points, but this ambition began to leave gaps at the back.
Celta Vigo started to find more space, and the match swung in their favour around the 80th minute. Williot Swedberg tested Vlachodimos with a fierce strike from the edge of the box, forcing a sharp save, and moments later Ilaix Moriba saw his rebound effort blocked in the area. These chances signalled that Celta were beginning to believe.
The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute. A clumsy challenge inside the box from Oso left the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Amid protests and yellow cards, Marcos Alonso stepped forward with calm assurance. His penalty was struck firmly into the bottom left corner. Although Vlachodimos got a hand to it, the power and placement were enough to send the ball into the net, silencing the home crowd and putting Celta Vigo ahead at 1–0.
The closing minutes were tense and chaotic. Sevilla threw everything forward, delivering crosses into the box and forcing late corners, but Celta Vigo defended with discipline and resilience. Yellow cards were shown as tempers flared, and the visitors worked tirelessly to break up play and run down the clock. Even in stoppage time, Sevilla struggled to carve out a clear chance, with Adnan Januzaj’s late header comfortably gathered by Radu.
When the referee finally blew for full time, it confirmed a gritty and well-earned victory for Celta Vigo. This was not a win built on domination, but on patience, defensive organisation, and taking the one clear opportunity that mattered most. Marcos Alonso’s composure from the spot proved decisive, while Ionuț Radu’s assured goalkeeping ensured Sevilla’s pressure never turned into a breakthrough.
For Sevilla, the defeat was a bitter one. They controlled large spells of the match but lacked the cutting edge in the final third to make their possession count. Celta Vigo, by contrast, will take great confidence from a result that showcased their discipline and ability to grind out points away from home the kind of victory that can define a season.
