Celta Vigo Secures First Europa League Win Over Celtic

Celta Vigo secured its first victory in the UEFA Europa League league phase on Thursday by defeating Celtic 2-1 at Celtic Park in Glasgow. The Spanish club orchestrated a remarkable second-half comeback, fueled by a stellar performance from defender Javi Rodriguez, who netted a quick-fire double to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

The match began with a scoreless first half, but the hosts quickly broke the deadlock shortly after the interval. In the 47th minute, Mika Baur opened the scoring for Celtic with a first-time shot from roughly 14 meters out, following a swift run and cross by Haissem Hassan. Even though Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu managed to get a hand on the ball, he could not keep it out of the net.

Celtic pushed to extend their advantage as the second half progressed. Radu was called into action in the 56th minute to deny Benjamin Nygren from close range, and moments later, Liam Scales struck the crossbar with a header following a cross from Nygren. Despite the mounting pressure from the Scottish side, Celta gradually found their footing.

The turning point arrived in the 68th minute when Javi Rodriguez leveled the score. Hugo Alvarez delivered a curling free-kick from the right flank, allowing Rodriguez to launch himself forward and head the ball past the goalkeeper. Just three minutes later, Rodriguez struck again to complete the turnaround.

Capitalizing on a defensive clearance following a teammate's blocked effort, Rodriguez took a touch and unleashed a spectacular, curling right-footed strike from distance that nestled just inside the left post. The quick sequence completely shifted the momentum of the game and left the Celtic defense stunned.

Despite a late push from Celtic, which included attempts by Colby Donovan and Sorensen, Celta's defense and goalkeeper held firm. Radu finished the match with three crucial saves, earning a match rating comparable to the team average, while Rodriguez stood out with the highest rating on the pitch for his decisive goals.

The hard-fought victory marks Celta Vigo's first points in the current Europa League campaign, while leaving Celtic still searching for their first points of the league phase after three matches. Traveling supporters celebrated the triumph enthusiastically from the stands as the final whistle blew in Glasgow.