The match opened with a spark from Gabriel Veiga, who had earned a starting spot for Celta de Vigo and delivered the decisive moment in a 1-0 La Liga Santander victory over Real Betis. In the second half, Betis pressed with intent, creating several sharp chances that were expertly repelled by the Celta goalkeeper, Marchesín, preserving the lead.
Veiga’s inclusion represented a bold move for Celta, stepping in for Iago Aspas and driving the team forward with surprising authority. He stood out from the early stages, orchestrating moves and applying high-pressure pressure that unsettled Betis’ defense. His contribution was a statement of intent, a display of speed, technique, and relentless effort that set the tone for the home side.
Early on Carles Pérez tested Luiz Felipe with a dangerous strike that was well saved. Minutes later Veiga unleashed a powerful strike from about twenty-five meters, a shot fueled by relentless pressing and quick transitions. The sequence showcased Veiga’s ability to combine smart positioning with a fierce, accurate finish, illustrating why he was trusted to carry the team forward in this match.
Betis faced a scenario where they were forced to defend without sustained possession. Celta dominated the tempo, moving the ball with purpose and probing for gaps in the visitors’ shape. Although Betis managed to counter at moments, the Galician side rarely allowed a clear opening, and their defensive organization limited Betis’ forward thrust. Beltrán’s clearance briefly opened an opportunity that Veiga capitalized on with a strike that reflected confident technique and composure under pressure.
Five minutes after Veiga’s effort, Larsen showcased excellent vision and execution. He intercepted a Betis play and delivered a precise long pass, allowing Veiga or another teammate to threaten on goal. The sequence culminated in a yellow card for Luiz Felipe after contact with Larsen, and the offside call and VAR review that followed confirmed a tense, fast-paced start to the game. The intensity remained high as both sides pushed for dominance in Balaídos’ fervent atmosphere.
Betis persisted with their urgency, crafting opportunities through set pieces and edge-of-the-box play. Óscar Rodríguez delivered a free kick that tested the defense, while Carles Pérez created a one-on-one situation against Rui Silva, only to be denied by the Betis shot-stopper. The visitors showed resilience, keeping Celta honest as they sought an equalizer that would shift momentum.
The final outcome hinged on a crucial moment in Veiga’s early pressure and the steadfast performance of Celta’s defense. The scoreline remained 1-0 as the clock moved through the first half, with the home crowd enjoying a moment of triumph and the visiting squad grappling with a determined opponent who capitalized on a key opportunity to seize control of the game.
As the second half unfolded, Manuel Pellegrini opted to refresh Betis’ attacking options with William Jose and Fekir, seeking a renewed push to recover from the early setback. Betis asserted themselves more clearly, pushing Celta back and creating sustained pressure across the pitch. They controlled possession more consistently and looked to unlock the defense with sharper runs and sharper finishing, just missing on a confident forward move that would have altered the complexion of the match.
Marchesín remained a decisive factor between the posts for Celta, mirroring his earlier interventions with another standout save that staved off a Willian José header. As the game wore on, the Betis goalkeeper, Rui Silva, also faced demanding moments as Celta pressed with purpose in the late stages. The drama continued to mount as Rodríguez and Pezzella threatened to level the score with chances from open play and set pieces, but the Celta defense held firm, denying clear opportunities for the visitors to draw level.
In a tense closing phase, Betis pressed higher up the field, but Celta’s compact shape and rapid transitions kept their lead intact. The visitors saw the match slip away as the clock wound down, with Veiga’s early influence continuing to echo through the action. The final whistle confirmed Celta’s hard-fought 1-0 victory in Balaídos, with Veiga’s goal serving as the defining moment of a tightly contested contest.
Data sheet: RC Celta de Vigo lined up with Mallo, Mingueza, Aidoo, Unai Núñez, Javi Galán, Beltrán, Veiga, Óscar Rodríguez, Solari, Carles Pérez, Larsen. Substitutes used included Mingueza and Luca de la Torre in the 69th minute, Tapia in the 55th, and Iago Aspas in the 75th. Real Betis fielded Rui Silva, Montoya, Luiz Felipe, Edgar, Alex Moreno, Paul, William Carvalho, Luiz Henrique, Canales, Rodri, Borja Iglesias, with substitutions including Ruibal, Fekir, Pezzella, Joaquín, and others as the match progressed.
The official target was a single goal by Gabri Veiga in the ninth minute of the game. Referee Soto Grado oversaw the match, with red cards issued to Luiz Felipe in the 19th minute and several bookings for players from both sides as the 90 minutes unfolded. The fixture, played on the seventh matchday of La Liga Santander in front of a crowd of 14,344 at Abanca Balaídos, also featured Iago Aspas appearing with his family to present the Zarra Cup to the fans prior to kickoff.