Celta Vigo defeated Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium with a 3-1 scoreline, as Veiga opened the scoring in the 26th minute, followed by Iago Aspas converting a late first-half penalty and Carles Perez finishing the scoring in the 82nd minute. Gragera added a late goal in the 86th minute to seal the result.
It was a tough night for Espanyol, who suffered a third consecutive defeat. The home crowd remained animated, but the visitors could not overturn the deficit after half time and pressure grew without yielding the desired breakthrough. Joselu did find the net late in the first half, but the effort was ruled offside as the ball found the back of the goal, leaving Espanyol behind by two at the break.
The match opened with both sides testing each other. Braithwaite created an early threat, while Aspas and Darder offered chances for their teams in the minutes that followed. Yet the initial tempo remained cautious, with the goalkeeper often the primary port of call for clearances and catches during the tense exchanges.
Veiga changed the rhythm with a precise corner kick in the 26th minute, punctuating a period in which Celta enjoyed more territory and control. The 20-year-old from Pontevedra impressed with his movement and decision-making, helping set the tone for his side’s dominance in that stretch.
@gabriveiga10 It’s for big things. VERY BIG.
Nine goals in the league month were highlighted in a post from Movistar Plus, acknowledging Veiga’s breakout display and the potential for more to come this season.
Attention remained on Iago Aspas and Joselu as both had recently received national team call-ups, with Veiga stepping forward as the central figure for Celta. The first half concluded with Espanyol trailing by two goals after a clear penalty was awarded to Cabrera in the 44th minute. Aspas converted from the spot to make it 0-2 at halftime, creating a difficult path back for the hosts at RCDE Stadium.
After the break, Celta pressed for a third. In the opening minutes, Luca de la Torre and Seferovic each created chances, but close finishes let Espanyol breathe momentarily. Espanyol pushed in search of a lifeline, while Celta’s attackers remained dangerous on the counter and with controlled build-up.
Joselu had a notable moment in the 58th minute when a free ball opened a window for a goal. He attempted to place the ball with precision after a cross from Rubén Sánchez, but the finish didn’t find the target and the chance faded.
Espanyol started to show more presence in the visiting half as the game progressed, yet the rhythm did not swing in their favor. Celta continued to apply pressure and eventually extended the lead in the 82nd minute when Carles Pérez finished a well-worked team move to seal the result for Vigo.
Then came a late moment from Gragera in the 86th minute, a corner kick that found the net. The goal added to the margin but did little to alter the overall outcome and the atmosphere remained tense as Espanyol faced a challenging run of La Liga matches ahead.
That sequence summarized the evening: a determined home side, a radiant performance from Veiga, and a clinical finish from Perez that underlined Vigo’s superiority on the night. The match, part of the La Liga Santander schedule, drew a crowd of 26,231 at RCDE Stadium and left Espanyol with work to do to climb the table. The match official was Cuadra Fernandez, who issued cautions to Darder, Javi Galán, and Strand Larsen during the encounter.
Data sheet: 1 – RCDE Espanyol: Pacheco; Óscar Gil, Montes, Sergi Gómez, Cabrera, Puado; Rubén Sánchez, Gragera, Darder; Denis Suárez, Braithwaite, Joselu. 3 – Celta: Ivan Villar; Hugo Mallo, Aidoo, Unai Núñez, Galán; Carles Pérez, Solari, Beltrán, Veiga, Luca de la Torre; Aspas, Seferovic. Scorers: 0-1 Veiga, min 26; 0-2 Aspas, min 45 penalty; 0-3 Carles Pérez, min 82; 1-3 Gragera, min 86. Referee: Cuadra Fernández. Attendance: 26,231 at RCDE Stadium.
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