Celta edge Granada 2-1 in La Liga

A pair from Iago Aspas allowed Celta Vigo to leapfrog Athletic Club Bilbao into fifth place in the La Liga with a 2-1 win over Granada, who remain just one point above the drop zone with three matches left to play in the Spanish football league.

Though already assured of a spot in the 2016-2017 Europa League, the hosts on Monday started aggressively, pinning Granada in their own end and forcing a save from goalkeeper Andres Fernandez just six minutes in, reports Efe. Granada, with more at stake, were sloppy and tentative.

Celta took the lead in the 14th minute, as Aspas converted from the spot after Granada’s Cristiano 

Biraghi committed a foolish penalty against John Guidetti.

The home side took its foot off the pedal after getting the goal and Granada would have equalised right before the half-time break if David Lomban’s header hadn’t bounced off the crossbar.

Granada came close again in the opening minutes of the second half. 

Adalberto Peñaranda caught Celta on the counter-attack, but delivered a poor finish in the showdown with home keeper Ruben Blanco.

The visitors grew in confidence and finally pulled level in the 69th minute, when Yousseff El Arabi redirected a ball from teammate Fran Rico into the Celta net.

Startled into action, Celta returned to their form of the start of the match and Aspas got the second and decisive goal for the hosts in the 75th minute.