RC Celta ended the year with a 2-0 win at home against Real Sociedad. A brace by Pablo Durán, who was scoring for the first time in LALIGA EA SPORTS, gave the three points to a Celtic team that was far superior during the 90 minutes.
From the start, Claudio Giráldez’s men dominated a Basque team that never found answers to the intensity and fluid soccer of the Galician team. The first half was a Celtic monologue, with Celta superior not only in intensity, but also in quality. Real Sociedad, one of the most solid teams in the competition, barely managed to trouble the home defense. Remiro and Zubeldia avoided a higher score, but they could not contain the impetus of an unstoppable Pablo Durán. The jewel of the youth academy, lived a magical afternoon. In his second consecutive start, the 23-year-old striker was quick to confirm that his rise to the Celeste first team is no mere coincidence. His first goal came in the 40th minute, after a pass from Javi Rodríguez, when he launched a powerful shot from the edge of the area that, despite hitting the post and the hands of Álex Remiro, ended up in the back of the net. And just six minutes later, he shone again when he finished at the far post a precise cross from Alfon after a great collective play.
On returning from the dressing rooms, Imanol Alguacil tried to react with three changes at halftime, but his team still lacked spark, and Balaídos, which had so often been an easy stage for Real, became an impregnable fortress. So much so that Celta came close to extending the lead with another goal from Durán, but this was eventually disallowed for offside by Borja Iglesias.
With this victory, RC Celta closes the year and prepares for the challenges of 2025. Celta’s next match will be on January 5 in the Copa del Rey, when they will face Racing Santander, while the return to LALIGA EA SPORTS is scheduled for January 10 in an away match against Rayo Vallecano.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
2- RC Celta: Guaita; Javi Rodríguez, Starfelt, Marcos Alonso, Sergio Carreira (Hugo Álvarez 72′); Fran Beltrán, Ilaix Moriba, Mingueza (Pablo Domínguez 90′), Pablo Durán (Swedberg 72′); Alfon González (Franco Cervi 84′) and Borja Iglesias (Douvikas 90′).
0 – Real Sociedad: Remiro; Aramburu; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Aihen Muñoz (Jon Martín 46′); Turrientes (Oskarsson 46′), Brais Méndez (Pablo Marín 83′), Sucic; Barrenetxea (Sheraldo Becker 46′), Sergio Gómez and Oyarzabal (Take Kubo 63′).
Referee: Busquets Ferrer (Balearic committee). Yellow cards for home team Javi Rodríguez, Starfelt and Pablo Durán; and for visitors Oyarzabal, Turrientes, Sheraldo Becker, Zubeldia and Kubo.
Goals: 1-0 (40′) Pablo Durán; 2-0 (45′) Pablo Durán.
Incidents: Match corresponding to matchday 18 of LALIGA EA SPORTS played at the Abanca Balaídos Stadium in front of 22,956 spectators.
