Javi Rodríguez Double Earns Celta Vigo 2-1 Comeback Win at Celtic

Glasgow’s wet European night gave Celta de Vigo the response they needed. Claudio Giráldez’s side came from behind at Celtic Park to beat Celtic 2-1, with defender Javi Rodríguez scoring twice in three second-half minutes to secure the Galicians’ first Europa League victory.

The three points have not yet carried Celta into the competition’s top 24. They sit 25th, level on points with Anderlecht, Hoffenheim, Milan, OFI Crete, Jagiellonia and Torreense, but remain in the elimination places on the applicable tiebreakers. Still, after defeats in their opening two games, the journey home from Scotland brought a far more useful outlook.

A controlled first half in Glasgow

Celta arrived at the 60,000-capacity Celtic Park under pressure, as both clubs were still seeking a first win in the league phase. Giráldez had stressed before the match that La Liga remained the club’s central competition, while admitting his team needed points quickly to preserve its European hopes.

Yoel Lago, speaking before the trip, had described his excitement at playing in “a historic European stadium such as Celtic Park.” He was among the substitutes as Celta began with Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Cáceres and Marcos Alonso; Javi Rueda, Febas, Burcio and Carreira; plus Aspas, Jutglà and Hugo Álvarez.

Celtic started Johnstone in goal behind Donovan, Murray, Scales and Tierney, with McGregor and Baur in midfield. Nygren, Hassan and Osmand supported Durán.

1. Celta took command of the early possession and repeatedly worked the ball into Celtic territory, with Carreira lively on the left and Jutglà linking attacks.
2. Aspas had a shot blocked after Jutglà’s lay-off, while a promising move involving Javi Rueda and Jutglà was cut out by the home defence.
3. Burcio forced Celta’s first corner, then fired another attempt over, as the visitors continued to occupy the ball.
4. Celtic gradually found their way into the match. Hassan supplied a cross for Durán, whose header was gathered by Radu, and Osmand later shot wide after a dangerous Celta turnover.
5. Before half-time, Jutglà went close twice: one effort passed narrowly wide after an Aspas recovery, and another was held by Johnstone following combination play with Febas.

The interval arrived at 0-0, although Celta had held 54 per cent possession and attempted 10 shots to Celtic’s two. Their problem was familiar: territorial authority had not created a decisive opening. Johnstone was the stronger figure for Celtic in the first half, while Jutglà stood out for the visitors.

Rodríguez turns the contest

1. Celtic struck soon after the restart. Hassan beat Marcos Alonso for pace and delivered from the right; the ball took a touch in the area before reaching Baur, who finished despite Radu getting a hand to it.
2. Celta nearly answered through Febas, who sent Carreira’s low delivery wide, while Radu kept the visitors alive by blocking Nygren when the forward ran through.
3. The home side then hit the crossbar through Scales’s header from a Hassan cross, with Hugo Álvarez applying pressure at the far post.
4. Giráldez changed his side in the 63rd minute, introducing Moriba and Williot for Burcio and Aspas. Pablo Durán replaced Jutglà in the 77th minute, before Javi Galán and Antañón came on for Javi Rueda and Hugo Álvarez late on.
5. Celta’s equaliser arrived in the 69th minute. Hugo Álvarez crossed and Javi Rodríguez arrived from deep to power in a header. A VAR check examined a possible offside but confirmed the goal.
6. Three minutes later, Rodríguez completed the turnaround. After Celta attacks involving Jutglà and Febas, the defender collected the loose ball near the edge of the area and placed a driven shot inside the post.

It was an extraordinary decisive burst from the Celta defender, who was named the visitors’ player of the match. Baur was Celtic’s leading performer.

Celta did not retreat entirely after taking the lead. Williot had several attempts following his introduction, including a shot that passed just wide, while Antañón nearly found a third goal with an effort deflected narrowly past the post. Pablo Durán also struck the post, although the flag was raised for offside.

Celtic made changes as Osmand departed injured for Forrest in the 58th minute, with Hogh replacing Hassan and Tounekti and Sorensen later entering for Durán and Baur. In the closing minutes, Forrest brought down a long Tierney delivery and Donovan tested Radu, but the Romanian goalkeeper held firm. Sorensen headed another Tierney cross wide.

There were five Celtic yellow cards: Durán for protesting an appeal, coach O’Neill for dissent, Scales for fouling Pablo Durán, Sorensen for a stamp on Carreira, and Donovan after knocking the ball into the advertising boards in frustration. Celta finished without a booking. Georgi Kabakov of Bulgaria refereed the match, with Germany’s Sören Storks operating VAR.

Celta’s numbers tell the story

The final figures reflected Celta’s broader control: 22 attempts, 56 per cent of the ball and six corners. Yet the away side still required the composure of Radu and a late collective defensive effort as Celtic pressed through three added minutes.

For Celta, who were without El Abdellaoui, Borja Iglesias, Núñez, Román and Starfelt, the night was about more than a first European win. It was a result that restored movement to their campaign, even if the top 24 remains just beyond reach for now. Celtic, missing Carter-Vickers, Emenalo, Johnston, Jota, Mheuka, Trusty, Van den Berg and Yang Hyun-Jun, were left to consider a second-half lead that vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.