Celta Vigo launched a stunning second-half comeback to defeat Valencia 3-2 at Mestalla, with Guido Rodríguez's double for the hosts ultimately in vain.
Celta Vigo secured a thrilling 3-2 away victory against Valencia in a pulsating La Liga encounter. They overturned a first-half deficit, scoring three goals after the break, to claim all three points. Guido Rodríguez netted twice for Valencia, but his efforts were overshadowed by Celta's resilience.
Entering this crucial match, Valencia occupied 13th place in the league standings, seeking consistency to move up the table. Celta Vigo, sitting 7th, aimed to solidify their push for European qualification, arriving with a recent form of two wins from their last five outings.
The home side started with purpose. Valencia took an early lead when Guido Rodríguez struck in the 12th minute. He collected a pass inside the box, then drilled a powerful shot into the net, giving Valencia the advantage. The Mestalla crowd erupted in celebration.
Celta struggled to penetrate Valencia's well-organized defence throughout the first half. Their attacking moves lacked the necessary precision to create clear-cut chances. Compounding their frustration, Celta players J. Rodriguez and M. Alonso each received yellow cards just before halftime in the 43rd and 44th minutes.
Valencia carried their narrow 1-0 lead into the interval. The second half promised a tactical battle, with Celta Vigo needing a significant shift in performance. Home fans hoped Valencia would maintain their defensive solidity.
Celta coach made decisive changes at the restart, introducing three substitutes: J. El Abdellaoui, Williot Swedberg, and Pablo Durán. This triple change immediately revitalized the visitors' attack.
The impact was swift. Ilaix Moriba equalized for Celta Vigo in the 56th minute, sweeping the ball past the goalkeeper after a flowing team move. Just four minutes later, Celta completed their turnaround; Fer López guided the ball home to put his side 2-1 ahead in the 60th minute.
Valencia's manager responded with multiple substitutions of his own. Hugo Duro, Umar Sadiq, and Andre Almeida entered the fray in the 63rd minute, followed by Javi Guerra a minute later. Valencia pressed intensely for an equalizer, but Celta's defence held firm under pressure.
Williot Swedberg then extended Celta's lead, finishing expertly from close range in the 81st minute. The goal provided crucial breathing room for the visitors. Despite this, Guido Rodríguez scored his second of the match for Valencia in the 90+3 minute, a late consolation assisted by Umar Sadiq.
Celta Vigo displayed impressive attacking efficiency. They scored three goals from an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.04, registering five shots on target from nine total attempts. Valencia, conversely, only converted two goals from their 0.81 xG despite having 13 total shots. Celta also dominated possession with 58%.
This hard-fought victory propels Celta Vigo firmly into the contention for European places, strengthening their hold on 7th position. Valencia will reflect on a disappointing home defeat, missing a chance to gain ground in the mid-table.
