Benítez’s squad nearly sealed the win but let it slip away, with the final calls by the referee and the VAR shaping the outcome and leaving plenty to discuss.
The Vigo meeting ended in a tense stalemate that will spark substantial commentary. The light blue side shared the points with Sevilla, whose match was sparked by Renato Tapia’s sending off. Celta, refreshed after halftime and with Diego Alonso unable to spark a decisive reaction, created several clear chances to widen the gap on the scoreboard. Yet as the contest appeared to favor the home team, a late challenge by the Peruvian midfielder leveled the sides again, reducing Sevilla to ten men and handing the visitors a renewed push.
Live coverage of Celta vs. Sevilla in La Liga 2023-2024 is available here.
With Youssef En-Nesyri back, Sevilla found renewed vigor at the top of the attack. He delivered a headed ball to set up a key moment and later capitalized on a mistake by Mingueza to level the score. The visitors pressed for victory in the closing minutes, but they never managed to dominate the chances they created against Guaita’s goal, and their overall performance on the pitch did not match the effort they showed as the game wore on.
LaLiga EA Sports 2023/2024 guide: classification, dates, teams, promotions, relegations and calendar
Deep into stoppage time, Celta created one last flare of offense that set off a wave of controversy. Anastasios Douvikas went down in the box during a tussle with Jesús Navas, a decision that Alejandro José Hernández Hernández initially signaled, and after a VAR check, the ruling was adjusted. The change sparked anger and bewilderment among Celta and its supporters who felt the referee’s final call was unfair. Without the reversal, a draw would have favored them. Sevilla escaped with a point thanks to En-Nesyri’s late strike and Hernández Hernández’s pivotal intervention. Celta Vigo leaves the field wrapping up a tense weekend.
The video recap of Celta 1-1 Sevilla from LaLiga EA Sports 2023-2024: goals, highlights and debates
THE MATCH SUMMARY, ON VIDEO
VIDEOS
The sincerity of Lucas Ocampos: “If the referee reviewed it ten times on VAR the way he saw it, I’d complain just as much if I were in Celta’s shoes.” pic.twitter.com/LlP3cms3WL
— GOAL Spain (GoalEspana) November 4, 2023
CELTA DEMANDS RESPECT! Iago Aspas and Rafa Benítez vented after the draw against Sevilla. “It seems like every time we step out, they push us further down, and with what we’ve endured we should be in the Champions League,” Aspas commented. pic.twitter.com/uoWbj2L4aR
— GOAL Spain (GoalEspana) November 4, 2023
CELTA XI
XI OF SEVILLE
The minute-by-minute video of Celta vs. Sevilla from La Liga EA Sports 2023-2024
Source: Goal