Alavés 0-1 Celta de Vigo: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Bwin’s post-match review of Alavés 0-1 Celta de Vigo in the La Liga on Saturday, 22 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

In a tightly contested La Liga encounter at Mendizorrotza, Alavés and Celta de Vigo battled to a stalemate in the first half with neither side able to break the deadlock, though tensions rose with yellow cards shown to players from both teams early on. The hosts pushed for dominance with slightly more possession, but Celta’s disciplined defence held firm, limiting clear-cut opportunities. As the half drew to a close, the match remained goalless, setting up an intriguing second period where substitutions would play a key role.

The second half saw increased intensity, with more bookings as the referee struggled to keep control, and Celta capitalised on a penalty opportunity to score the only goal of the game, shifting the momentum in their favour. Alavés attempted to respond with attacking changes, bringing on fresh legs to chase an equaliser, but their efforts were thwarted by Celta’s resilient backline. Despite late pressure and additional substitutions from both sides, the visitors held on for a narrow victory, with no injury-time goals to alter the outcome.

Alavés edged possession with 52% compared to Celta de Vigo’s 48%, allowing them to dictate the tempo at times, but this slight advantage didn’t translate into goals, highlighting their inefficiency in the final third which could concern bettors eyeing over/under markets. They also led in corners 4-2 and successful dribbles 52-46, suggesting better individual skill and set-piece threats, yet Celta’s single penalty taken and scored proved decisive, underscoring how spot-kicks can swing low-scoring affairs in La Liga. Both teams received 2 yellow cards each with no red cards or yellow/reds, keeping the match at full strength, while each used all 5 substitutions, which influenced fatigue levels but ultimately favoured Celta’s defensive solidity without any recorded assists or injury-time goals to change the narrative.

The lack of assists on either side points to a game decided by a moment of fortune rather than creative playmaking, and with no injury-time goals, bettors who backed a late drama would have been disappointed, emphasising the value in analysing penalty trends for future wagers.

The match’s turning point came from Celta de Vigo’s successfully converted penalty, which ultimately separated the two sides in an otherwise balanced encounter, with the spot-kick arising from a defensive error that bettors might note for assessing foul-prone defences in upcoming fixtures. Yellow cards accumulated throughout, starting early in the first half and continuing into the second, adding to the physicality and potentially disrupting rhythm, though no red cards emerged to dramatically alter the flow. Substitutions played a crucial role, particularly in the latter stages, as both managers sought to inject energy, but it was Celta’s changes that helped maintain their lead, while Alavés’s late triple swap failed to yield an equaliser, highlighting the impact of tactical adjustments in tight games.

Alavés lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Antonio Sivera in goal behind a solid back four led by Nahuel Tenaglia and Jon Pacheco, while the midfield partnership of Antonio Blanco and Denis Suárez provided balance, allowing forwards Toni Martínez and Lucas Boyé to form a potent striking duo focused on exploiting spaces.

Celta de Vigo deployed a 3-4-3 setup, featuring Ionuț Radu between the sticks and a defensive trio anchored by Carl Starfelt and Marcos Alonso for stability, with the wing-back roles of Javi Rueda and Sergio Carreira offering width, complementing the attacking trident where Iago Aspas’s experience linked effectively with Pablo Durán and Bryan Zaragoza.

Bwin’s Man of the Match goes to Iago Aspas of Celta de Vigo, whose clinical finishing delivered the game’s sole goal alongside zero assists but one key pass and zero big chances created, underlining his importance as a reliable scorer in crucial moments that can tip the scales for bettors backing individual player performances.

Recent La Liga matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Celta de Vigo (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Girona (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Espanyol (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Rayo Vallecano (A)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Valencia (H)

Recent La Liga matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Deportivo Alavés (A)
• Loss: 2-4 vs FC Barcelona (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Levante (A)
• Win: 3-2 vs Osasuna (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Real Sociedad (H)

Sitting 14th in La Liga with 15 points after back-to-back defeats, Alavés face a daunting challenge against second-placed FC Barcelona, who boast 31 points, in their upcoming clash on 29 November 2025 at 15:15, offering a chance to turn their form around but demanding defensive resilience against a high-flying attack that could appeal to punters favouring goal-heavy encounters.

Celta de Vigo, holding 12th position with 16 points following their recent victory, now shift focus to European action against Ludogorets on 27 November 2025 at 17:44, where maintaining momentum will be key despite the opponents’ uncertain standing, presenting betting opportunities in markets like both teams to score given Celta’s mixed defensive record.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.