Aspas leads Celta Vigo to narrow victory over Girona
Despite Girona acquiring some new wisdom after a midweek spent training with English champions Manchester City, the omens seemed against them.
After just 10 minutes, Yangel Herrera suffered the same fate as fellow midfielder Rodrigo Riquelme did in Girona’s last outing, finding himself withdrawn through injury as the hosts kept Celta at bay.
Juanpe didn’t do his side any favours though, forcing the first piece of goalkeeping from his own stopper, Juan Carlos, with a goal-line clearance from a wayward backpass.
As the first half drew on, the attackers of both sides found their rhythm. Cristhian Stuani, who put four goals past the Sky Blues across his five previous matches against them, was presented with the Blanquivermells’ best opportunity midway through the half, but could only direct a header straight at Agustin Marchesin from Valentin Castellanos’ deflected cross.
Meanwhile Celta left it late before the break to make their best push, with full debutant Carles Perez seeing an acrobatic scorpion kick deflected behind, before forcing Carlos into another save from distance following the subsequent corner.
Picking up where they left off after the break, Celta finally broke the deadlock in the 48th minute. Becoming only the second player after Fabian Orellano in 2014 to score in Celta’s opening three league matches this century, Aspas added himself to a distinguished group by taking Perez’s pass in stride before hitting a fine left-footed shot across goal and in off the right post, netting what would transpire to be his 48th match winner for Celta in 14 years with the club.
In response, the hosts turned to the bench for some extra firepower late on, but when the opportunity to draw level kindly dropped to the fresh legs of Reinier on the edge of the box, the Brazilian blazed over Marchesin’s goal.
In turn, Girona have now failed to win any of their last five top-flight fixtures on a Friday, whilst a first clean sheet of the season for Celta Vigo is also their third consecutive shutout in Friday matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo)