Celta carried over the positive momentum from recent matches and secured a convincing 3-0 win over Grasshopper. In their fifth friendly of the summer, Claudio Giráldez’s side came out fully focused from the start and left Switzerland with a well-deserved victory, thanks to goals from Ilaix Moriba, Jones El-Abdellaoui, and Pablo Durán.
The match began with a determined Celta, showing clear ideas and a well-defined attacking approach. That familiar style was quickly reflected on the scoreboard. In the 8th minute, Hugo Álvarez found space down the left flank and, after a fine individual effort, set up Ilaix Moriba, who finished calmly to make it 0–1. Just four minutes later, the Celestes struck again—this time through a quick attacking transition and a precise finish from Jones El-Abdellaoui, scoring his second goal of the preseason. With a 0–2 lead, Celta controlled the tempo of the game and limited Grasshopper’s chances before the break. The only downside to an otherwise excellent first half was the forced substitution of Javi Rodríguez, who took a heavy blow to the face and is suspected to have suffered a nasal trauma with a possible fracture. He will undergo further tests to determine the extent of the injury.
After the break, Celta maintained their intensity, pressing high and dominating in the opposition half. Their third goal came in the 54th minute, when Pablo Durán broke through the defensive line and calmly finished a one-on-one against the goalkeeper. From there, the team continued pushing for a fourth. Hugo González was particularly active on the wing, making incisive runs inside and forcing a great save from the local keeper in the 77th minute. Iago Aspas, Pablo Durán once again, and finally Óscar Mingueza all had chances to extend the lead, but none found the net. Still, the team maintained a high level until the final whistle, delivering a complete performance marked by solidity, vertical play, and clear superiority.
With this victory, the Celestes wrap up their 2025/26 preseason stage. The squad now returns to Spain with renewed confidence and positive momentum, fully focused on their next test—an away fixture against Vitória SC on Friday, August 1, which will serve as another important step in fine-tuning ahead of the official season kickoff.
