Celta Vigo were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Álvaro Valles and had to settle for a goalless draw with Real Betis at the Abanca Balaídos. The LaLiga EA Sports matchday ten fixture ended scoreless, a result that leaves the Galician side in ninth place with eleven points, having recorded two wins, five draws and two losses from their nine games so far.
Rafa Benítez's team created the clearer chances in the first half. Pablo Durán and Hugo González both tested Valles, who produced outstanding saves to earn the man of the match award. Betis, arriving after a Champions League win over Feyenoord, came closest in the 54th minute when a strike from Nelson Deossa rattled the crossbar.
Late changes and chances
Both managers made changes in the latter stages searching for a winner. Celta introduced Iago Aspas and Sergio Carreira in the 68th minute, while Betis brought on Pablo Fornals and Troy Parrott. The Irish striker had a late opportunity in added time but sent his effort wide. At the other end, Aspas also forced a defensive intervention in the closing minutes.
Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera showed yellow cards to Ilaix Moriba and Sergio Carreira for Celta, and to Diego Llorente for Betis. There were no VAR incidents. With this point, Celta are now unbeaten in two consecutive league matches, following the win over Alavés and the draw with Elche. This forms part of a recent run of two wins, two draws and one loss in their last five outings, which includes a 2-1 win over Celtic last week, featuring a brace from Javier Rodríguez Galiano.
Álvaro Valles, the match's standout performer, assessed the result. "A draw that was fair," the goalkeeper said. "They dominated a large part of the first half. In the last fifteen minutes it evened out and the second half was more ours." The keeper also spoke about his good personal form, stating he is "enjoying it a lot" after a tough previous season.
The draw consolidates Celta's position in mid-table, sixteen points behind leaders Barcelona. The team has scored ten goals and conceded seven this season. The team's next assignment is a trip to face 17th-placed Rayo Vallecano at Vallecas on Saturday 31 October.
The report in full is at ABC Deportes
Celta's manager, Rafa Benítez, confirmed the team was not affected by travel problems from Glasgow. The club had to delay its return on Friday and could only hold one session before the match. "The ball flowed for the Galician team," Benítez stated about the performance. Celta, ninth with 12 points, maintains its run of two league games unbeaten following the draw with Betis and the win over Alavés.
Celta maintains its defensive solidity after the draw against Betis, having conceded only seven goals in ten matchdays. The team, ninth with 12 points, is now unbeaten in the league for three consecutive matchdays. Rafa Benítez highlighted the group's attitude: "The team's attitude was right." This positive run began with the victory against Alavés on October 18.
