Celta Vigo suffered a painful 2-1 defeat to Osasuna at Balaídos this weekend, a result defined by a VAR decision that turned the game. The sky-blue team, leading from an early Iago Aspas goal, saw everything unravel after Marcos Alonso's red card early in the second half.

How did Celta Vigo start the match?

Celta came out with intensity and clear control of the ball. Iago Aspas, the captain and offensive leader, started by coach Benito Giráldez's decision. In under fifteen minutes, Aspas capitalized on a mistake by Torró to drive forward, cut inside, and fire a low, hard shot. Goalkeeper Sergio Herrera had no chance. This goal, Celta's first of the season, seemed to set the stage for a good afternoon. The team controlled the rest of the first half without major scares, though their intensity dropped and they created no more clear chances. Osasuna, meanwhile, grew into the game before halftime with a long-range effort from Bretones and a tame shot from Raúl García.

What caused the match to turn?

The match completely flipped in the 48th minute due to a single action. Marcos Alonso committed a foul on Iker Muñoz. It was Celta's first foul of the entire match and referee Miguel Sesma initially showed a yellow card. After a VAR review, Sesma changed his decision and showed a direct red card to Alonso. Marca described the incident as "excessive rigor that punished Celta and gave wings to Osasuna." With a man down, Giráldez was forced to sacrifice Iago Aspas, taking him off for defender Starfelt. Almost immediately, in the 49th minute, Kike Barja exploited the numerical advantage to equalize.

How did Osasuna react with an extra player?

Visiting coach Jagoba Arrasate read the moment well. He made offensive substitutions, taking off Herrando and Dubasin to bring on Rubén García and Croatian striker Ante Budimir. Osasuna adopted a more aggressive system and pinned Celta back in their own half. The pressure paid off when, from a corner, a shot by Budimir struck the hand of Javi Galán inside the box. Budimir himself stepped up to convert the penalty, completing the comeback. Celta, with pride, mounted a final push in the closing minutes, but Osasuna held firm to take all three points and their first win of the season.

What is Celta Vigo's situation now?

This defeat leaves Celta Vigo in a tricky position at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. According to verified data as of August 30th, the team sits 14th in La Liga with just 1 point, from 0 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their opening two games. Their goal difference stands at 1 scored and 2 conceded. Furthermore, striker Borja Iglesias is currently on the injuries list, a significant absence in attack. The next fixture is a tough visit to bottom-placed Real Sociedad on September 3rd. The sky-blues need to react quickly to avoid falling behind, as they already trail leaders Alaves by 6 points. You can track the team's progress on our standings page.