RC Celta return from Vallecas with a sour taste in their mouth after a match in which they were superior in terms of chances, dominance and attacking play, but were left without the desired reward. Celta showed their attacking capacity, subduing Rayo Vallecano at various stages of the game, but fortune and finishing were not on their side.
Barely five minutes into the game when an action by the rival on Vicente Guaita generated some confusion among the aky blue players, which would be taken advantage of by Embarba to put Rayo Vallecano ahead on the scoreboard.
The team, far from giving up, began to regain control of the ball and to dominate a midfield captained by Ilaix Moriba. And just as the clock approached the half-hour mark, the Guinean player started a team move that would end up tying the game. Ilaix turned the ball over, breaking away from the pressure and slipping a perfect pass to Jonathan Bamba, who played a low pass to Borja Iglesias, who sent the ball straight into the back of the net.
With the scores level, in the second half, Claudio Giráldez’s side deployed all their attacking arsenal, constantly creating dangerous chances in their opponents’ area. However, it was the Madrid side who took advantage of a quick move by De Frutos to beat Guaita and take the lead with a definitive goal.
It was a blow for the sky blue who, despite continuing to dominate possession and play, were unable to convert their chances. The clearest of all came in the final minutes, when Williot Swedberg headed high from Borja Iglesias’ cross.
Thus ended a day of bad luck for the Celta expedition that returns to Vigo with the absence of Alfon, replaced by muscular discomfort, and Marcos Alonso who was sent off two minutes before the end for a double yellow card.
With this match, RC Celta concludes the first round of the competition with a total of 24 points. The next league match will be next Sunday, January 19th, at 14:00h. against Athletic Club in Abanca Balaídos. A match that has changed its schedule in the last few days due to the Copa del Rey round of 16 clash that the Celta will play against Real Madrid on Thursday, January 16, at 21:30h. at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
TECNICHAL SPECIFICATIONS:
2 – Rayo Vallecano: Cárdenas; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarría, Pathé Ciss (O. Valentín, min. 65), Unai López, De Frutos (Pedro Díaz, min. 86), Isi (Balliu, min. 75), Embarba (Nteka, min. 86) and Camello (Alvaro García, min. 64).
1 – RC Celta: Guaita; Carlos Domínguez, Starfelt (Hugo Sotelo, min. 81), Marcos Alonso, Óscar Mingueza, Ilaix Moriba, Fran Beltrán (Sergio Carreira, min. 81), Cervi (Williot Swedberg, min. 81), Alfon (Pablo Durán, min. 56), Bamba (Hugo Álvarez, min. 69) and Borja Iglesias.
Goals: 1-0, min. 4: Embarba. 1-1, min. 26: Borja Iglesias. 2-1, min. 63: Jorge De Frutos.
Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández (Balearic Committee). For RC Celta, yellow cards were given to Franco Cervi and Marcos Alonso, who was eventually sent off for a double caution. For Rayo Vallecano, Pathé Ciss and Mumin were cautioned.
Incidents: Match corresponding to matchday 19 of LALIGA EA SPORTS played at the Vallecas stadium in front of 12,955 spectators. At the start of the match, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Pablo Beceiro, brother of Carlos, Rayo Vallecano’s doctor.
