Our beloved Grada de Gol said goodbye with a smile in front of the hundreds of Celta hearts that it has welcomed throughout its history and seeing how RC Celta once again took the three points at Abanca Balaídos.
The day started with Iago Aspas collecting his ninth Manuel de Castro Handicap award for best player of the year 2024, a recognition for his incredible performance that he received from Álex López who, shortly after, was also honoured by all the Celta fans.
With the counter running, RC Celta started the match with difficulties, unable to find the good sensations, while the Navarrese team played with intensity and showed a defensive system with which they quickly took possession of the ball. A remarkable physical display with which Osasuna almost took the lead on the scoreboard, taking advantage of the lack of a response from the home side. However, Claudio Giráldez’s side gradually found their identity and withstood the onslaught. Celta began to grow as the first half progressed, with Fer López and Ilaix Moriba as the main danger creators. Oscar Mingueza and Williot Swedberg were added to the attacking threat, both of whom tried to score on the stroke of half-time, but to no avail.
At the start of the second half, the Celeste came out with a different mentality, more aggressive and determined to take the three points. A few minutes later, Sergio Carreira made the whole of Abanca Balaídos gasp with a shot from outside the area that Sergio Herrera managed to deflect away with a spectacular flight. Celta had to wait until the 65th minute when, in a move down the flank, Borja Iglesias received the ball in the small area where he was brought down by Lucas Torró. An action that the referee did not hesitate to signal as a penalty, and at that precise moment, everything seemed to stop. The only thing that remained was the ball, 11 metres from the net, and Iago Aspas, who had just entered the field of play, with the clear conviction of turning this opportunity into gold. And the captain did not miss. With his usual coolness and a shot just inside the post, he beat Sergio Herrera to put Celta ahead on the scoreboard and unleash euphoria once again in the sky blue fortress.
With the 1-0 in their favour, Claudio Giráldez’s team showed their defensive solidity against Osasuna, who tried to react by changing their system and going forward. But Celta resisted and managed to close the game with a huge dose of sacrifice and adding another valuable 3 points that place the team in the ninth position of the classification.
A golden brooch for the last dance with the Grada de Gol that puts an end to its history, a history through which hundreds of generations of Celta fans have passed, a history synonymous with passion, affection and heart. Grada de Gol says goodbye but its essence and the feeling it holds will always remain in each one of us.
Thank you, Gol!
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
1 – RC Celta: Vicente Guaita; Javi Rodríguez, Carl Starfelt, Marcos Alonso; Óscar Mingueza (Jailson, min.84), Hugo Sotelo (Fran Beltrán, min.77), Ilaix Moriba, Sergio Carreira; Fer López (Iago Aspas, min.64), Williot Swedberg (Iker Losada, min.84) and Borja Iglesias (Pablo Durán, min.77).
0 – CA Osasuna: Sergio Herrera; Rubén Peña, Catena (Rubén García, min.72), Boyomo, Herrando, Abel Bretones (Arnaiz, min.84); Moncayola (Iker, min.84), Torró, Moi Gómez (Barja, min.80); Budimir and Bryan Zaragoza (Raúl, min.80).
Goals: 1-0 Iago Aspas (p), min. 67.
Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez (Murcia Committee). Yellow card for Fer López in the 38th minute.
Incidents: Match corresponding to matchday 25 of LALIGA EA SPORTS played at the Abanca Balaídos stadium in front of 22,005 spectators. In the minutes before the match, sky blue captain Iago Aspas received the Manuel de Castro Hándicap award as Celta’s best player in 2024. On the other hand, the ex-player, Álex López, was honoured by all the Celta fans.
