Jorgen Strand Larsen’s first-half strike was all Celta Vigo needed to secure three vital points at their Estadio Municipal de Balaídos as they beat Granada 1-0, ending their 12-game winless LaLiga run (D6, L6) in the process.
Celta enjoyed an impressive start and quickly took the game to their opponents, spending the opening minutes camped in Granada’s half. Jonathan Bamba and Iago Aspas played prominent roles in the build-up, creating opportunities for their team.
The first clear chance came shortly before the 10th minute when Unai Núñez was unable to find the back of the net from Aspas’ cross, but Celta’s intensity was eventually rewarded around the midway point of the half. Strand Larsen showcased his skill by producing a beautiful backheel with his back to goal, giving his side the advantage.
As a result, Granada had no other option but to push further forward. However, their lack of ideas prevented them from providing any threat towards Vicente Guaita’s goal. The visitors heavily relied on new Bayern Munich signing Bryan Zaragoza, making it difficult for them to create problems in the final third. This allowed Celta to remain in cruise control.
Despite their clear dominance, the hosts could not add to their lead before the break. After the interval, Celta were eager to build on their momentum and tried to play with the same intensity and aggressiveness they showed in the first half.
Granada, on the other hand, adjusted their approach by playing with more width. They allowed their full-backs to roam free and gave Gerard Gumbau the freedom to distribute in midfield. This change almost paid off, as the visitors came close to equalizing three times through Zaragoza, Lucas Boyé, and Myrto Uzuni. Unfortunately for Granada, none of them could find the back of the net. Guaita made a crucial save to deny Boyé’s attempt.
Granada struggled to maintain their new-found intensity and resorted to firing long balls into the box in a desperate attempt to restore parity. Meanwhile, Celta adopted a more defensive stance to protect their slim lead, especially after Aspas was sent off in the 80th minute for a vicious challenge on Óscar Melendo.
Ultimately, Celta did what they had to do to protect the win, moving out of the relegation zone in the process. On the other hand, Granada has only managed to win once in their opening 17 matches (W1, D5, L11), and are already five points adrift from safety.
This victory will undoubtedly boost Celta Vigo’s confidence as they look to climb the LaLiga table. With their impressive performance against Granada, they have shown that they have the ability to compete and secure important wins. As the season progresses, Celta will be hoping to build on this momentum and continue their climb up the standings.