Celta Vigo claimed their first win in the Europa League group stage with a hard-fought comeback in Glasgow. The Sky Blues beat Celtic 2-1 on Thursday thanks to a second-half brace from Javi Rodríguez that turned the game around.
The victory comes during a positive spell for the team in La Liga, where they sit eighth with 11 points from nine games.
Comeback in three minutes
Celtic took the lead early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Mika Baur fired a right-footed shot from the centre of the box past Iván Villar. Celta, who had struggled to create chances until then, responded with grit. The equaliser arrived in the 69th. Hugo Álvarez delivered a cross from the left flank and Javi Rodríguez powered a header into the net.
Just three minutes later, the same player struck again to complete the turnaround. Following a corner, the midfielder pounced on a loose ball inside the area and struck a right-footed shot from outside the box to make it 1-2. Two goals in three minutes sealed a priceless comeback on Scottish soil.
Discipline and substitutions
The match was marked by tension and fouls, particularly from the home side. The visitors, in contrast, finished the game without a single booking, displaying key composure in a difficult away ground.
On 63 minutes, he brought on Ilaix Moriba and Williot Swedberg for Hugo Burcio and Iago Aspas, seeking fresh legs in midfield. In the closing stages, with the game under control, Javi Galán and Andrés Antañón replaced Hugo Álvarez and Javier Rueda to secure the three points.
This European success follows a positive run of results. In the past week, Celta also beat Alavés in the league (2-1) and suffered a narrow defeat to Juventus (1-2). The team has won three of its last five official matches, showing clear improvement. With 10 goals scored and only 7 conceded domestically, defensive solidity is matching a sharper attack.
Focus now shifts to Sunday's showdown at Balaídos. Fourth-placed Real Betis will visit Vigo in a key matchday for Celta's hopes of closing in on the European places. They face the challenge with morale sky-high after a historic Europa League comeback.
Celta's victory in Glasgow came against a Celtic side that made just one change to its starting eleven from its domestic rout the previous weekend. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill replaced goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo with Sam Johnstone. The Scottish side had thrashed Hearts 7-1 on Sunday. This European win extends Celta's positive run, with three wins in their last five official matches.
