The Celta already know what it means to sail in rough waters. In Freiburg, Claudio Giráldez’s side ran aground in a difficult harbour after a 3–0 defeat in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals, a tough result that now forces the Celestes to leave everything on the pitch at Abanca Balaídos in order to keep their dream alive.
The match started with an intense Freiburg side, pushing from the very first minutes, against a Celta team that struggled to find its footing on the pitch, lacking precision in the early stages. That home pressure soon paid off, and in double fashion. Vincenzo Grifo and Jan-Niklas Beste took advantage of defensive lapses and showed ruthless finishing, putting the tie in a very difficult position before half-time.
After the break, Celta tried to change the course of the game. They adjusted from the bench, gained territory, and at times managed to enjoy more possession, searching for the goal that would bring them back into the tie. However, Freiburg remained solid, well-organised at the back and hardly allowed any clear chances. Then, in one of their own strikes, the hosts, through Matthias Ginter, extended their lead, producing a scoreline harsher than what had been seen on the pitch and punishing a Celeste side that could not find its best version at the Europa-Park Stadion.
But if anything defines this team, it is its spirit. Now the tie returns home, to an Abanca Balaídos that promises to be a cauldron. There are 90 minutes left, a full voyage ahead in which there is no room for doubt or half measures. It is time to show the true meaning of “afouteza.” Because this competition is a gift to be enjoyed, but with nothing to lose, all that remains is to burn the ships.
Next Thursday, the decider. And in Vigo, no one is thinking of giving up.
