Celta Vigo lit up a cold afternoon in Galicia with a convincing 4-1 win over Valencia, a result that felt as cleansing as the ocean air swirling around Balaídos. On a day when both the stakes and the nerves were high, Borja Iglesias seized the stage with two goals and a commanding display that set the tone for a match Celta controlled for long stretches. Valencia, by contrast, stumbled again on the road, missing an early penalty that could have changed everything and leaving Vigo still searching for their first LaLiga away win of the season.

Played at Estadio Abanca-Balaídos with a 13:00 UTC kickoff, and overseen by referee Ricardo De Burgos, this Round 18 clash delivered drama early and often. It also tightened the storylines around both clubs: Celta steadying themselves in mid-table, Valencia looking over their shoulders from 17th, a point from safety and stuck on 16 points.

Celta Vigo vs Valencia: the moments that mattered

The first turning point came almost immediately. At seven minutes, Valencia midfielder Pepelu stepped up to the spot and smacked his penalty off the post. It was a huge let-off for the hosts and a psychological blow from which Valencia never fully recovered.

Celta grew into the game and took control before halftime. Borja Iglesias, reading the moment perfectly, converted a penalty on 33 minutes to put the hosts ahead. It was a finish full of calm and authority, and it lifted a home crowd that has endured its share of tense afternoons this season.

After the break, Iglesias doubled the lead on 59 minutes, a poacher’s goal that rewarded Celta’s pressure and smart movement around the box. That felt like the cushion the home side needed, but Valencia did briefly flicker back to life when Pepelu, making amends of sorts, pulled one back on 70 minutes to make it 2-1.

“Iglesias played like a captain today — calm, cold, and ruthless.”

That hint of a comeback was short-lived. Substitute Jones El-Abdellaoui restored Celta’s two-goal advantage on 83 minutes with a composed finish that killed Valencia’s momentum. Deep into stoppage time, Hugo Álvarez added a fourth at 90’4, sealing a statement win and sending Balaídos home smiling.

Borja Iglesias’ brace and a Man of the Match performance

Iglesias took the headlines and the Man of the Match award, and rightly so. His first goal, a cool penalty, came when Celta needed composure. His second, a striker’s instinct finish, arrived right as Valencia looked stretched and unsure. Beyond the goals, he linked play, offered a constant outlet, and helped Celta control the tempo when the game could have tilted.

For a Celta side that has often been strong at home, Iglesias’ leadership in the box felt like the missing piece. Performances like this can be season-shaping, especially against opponents battling at the wrong end of the table.

“That’s the Celta we expected at Balaídos — front foot, aggressive, clinical.”

Pepelu’s rollercoaster: from the post to the scoresheet

Pepelu lived through both extremes of this match. His early penalty miss was a gut-punch for Valencia. It gifted Celta time to settle and made the first goal feel heavier when it came. Credit to him, though: he kept going and found the net on 70 minutes to make it 2-1 and inject belief into his side. The problem for Valencia was everything in between. They never really built control in midfield, and Celta attacked the spaces with purpose.

“Valencia can’t keep missing big chances away and expect to survive.”

What the result means for the LaLiga table

The numbers paint a clear picture. Celta improved to 5-8-4 and 23 points, strengthening a positive trend that has seen them lose just once in their last six league games and stay unbeaten against bottom-nine sides this season (a run that was already W3, D5 heading in). This win should calm nerves and build confidence for the second half of the campaign.

Valencia, meanwhile, remain stuck. They have only three wins from 18 LaLiga matches and sit 17th on 16 points, a point off safety. The away form is especially alarming: still no away league victories this season, and just two away wins in the whole of 2025. You don’t need a deep dive to see why they are in trouble. When the first big chance goes begging, the rest tends to unravel.

Inside the flow of play

There was a clear rhythm to this game. Valencia began with energy and could have transformed the afternoon with that early penalty. Once it was missed, Celta’s composure grew. The hosts pressed smartly, picked the right passes into the channels, and found their striker in form. As the hour mark approached, Celta’s control was obvious, and the 2-0 lead reflected that.

Valencia’s best period came right after Pepelu’s goal, but it was too brief and too fragile. Celta’s late surge, with El-Abdellaoui and Álvarez on target, underlined the difference in belief and execution between the sides.

Injuries and selection context

Celta navigated the day without several defenders: Carl Starfelt, Carlos Domínguez, and Mihailo Ristić were sidelined. That made their control and late push even more impressive. Valencia’s own selection puzzle remained tricky, with Filip Ugrinic, Stole Dimitrievski, and Eray Cömert among the absentees. Depth matters in a long LaLiga season, and both benches were tested.

Head-to-head and history

Valencia’s history in this fixture has often been stronger, but Balaídos has grown less hospitable for them. Celta also won the last league meeting here 3-1, and this 4-1 result fits that recent swing. The home crowd senses it too: when Celta bring intensity in Vigo, they can trouble anyone in the bottom half and plenty above it.

Final whistle: a clear direction for both clubs

For Celta, this was the kind of performance that can anchor a winter run. Iglesias led from the front, the young faces made an impact late, and the team managed the key moments. It ends a small winless patch and extends a strong record against fellow strugglers. Keep that up, and mid-table safety will come into view quickly.

For Valencia, the story remains harsh. Miss the big chance early. Chase the game. Run out of rope late. Without an away win in LaLiga and with only three league victories all season, every match now feels like a survival test. Pepelu’s goal offered a glimpse of fight, but it’s points, not moments, that will decide their spring.

Referee Ricardo De Burgos managed a lively contest; the better, calmer side won on the day. Next up, Celta will aim to turn this spark into a streak. Valencia must find answers fast away from home, or the table will keep tightening around them.