Vigo veteran Aspas sees off Athletic Bilbao
Hoping to register a first home victory since the beginning of October, Celta were denied the opening goal of the game within the opening minute after VAR intervened to advise referee Isidro Díaz de Mera that Carles Perez had handled in the build-up.
In pursuit of their first victory since the season’s resumption, Bilbao ought to have been ahead in the 18th minute, only for Alex Berenguer to somehow fluff his lines in front of goal.
Looking to make up for his earlier miss, Berenguer was once again involved in the visitors’ endeavours in the final third, as the Spanish midfielder’s sweetly-struck volley left the post shaking.
Seeking to replicate last season's 1-0 victory at the Balaidos, Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde turned to his bench for inspiration, although he was without forward Inaki Williams, who was missing a La Liga match for the first time since 2016.
However, it was Celta who found a crucial breakthrough as top scorer Iago Aspas perfectly evaded the offside trap before sublimely firing into the bottom corner past the outstretched dive of Unai Simon.
Los Leones had very little by way of reply, with Celta goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin little more than a spectator for the vast majority of the contest.
A crucial victory lifts Carlos Carvalhal’s men out of the drop zone, while Bilbaolost further ground on the top-six after succumbing to a third successive league defeat.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo)