El Athletic secured its first victory of the LaLiga season with a 0-2 win against Celta de Vigo at Estadio de Balaídos, capitalizing on early defensive errors by the Galician side. According to match reports, goals from Álex Berenguer and Robert Navarro in a dominant first half secured the three points for the visiting squad, leaving Celta with a difficult start to the campaign after collecting just one point from their opening three matches.
Berenguer and Navarro Strike Early to Seal Victory
Operating under the German Edin Terzic, the team seized control early in Vigo. The breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute when Berenguer finished a sequence of play with a spectacular strike past Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu. Just two minutes later, a defensive lapse from Aleix Febas allowed Robert Navarro to intercept and double the advantage, putting the visitors firmly in command before the half-hour mark.
Radu Stands Tall Amid a First-Half Defensive Onslaught
The scoreline could have been far worse for the hosts during the first half. Radu delivered a gigantic performance between the posts for Celta, producing crucial saves to deny Oihan Sancet, punch away a point-blank effort from Iñaki Williams, and watch Aymeric Laporte’s header skim just over the crossbar.
Despite the defensive onslaught, Celta carved out openings of their own. Swedish forward Williot Swedberg tested Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón early on, and Ferran Jutglà rattled the crossbar with a header in the 37th minute.
Giráldez Orders Four Changes at the Interval
Celta manager Claudio Giráldez responded to the first-half struggles by making four tactical changes during the interval, introducing players including veteran Iago Aspas to inject stability into the attack. The adjustments prompted a visible shift in momentum as the hosts controlled more possession after the break.
Starfelt came close to pulling a goal back following a corner kick, and Aspas provided sharper distribution in the final third, though Celta ultimately struggled to break down Athletic’s resilient defensive block.
Missed Chances and a Caution-Heavy Second Half
Sancet squandered an opportunity to seal the match for Athletic in the 55th minute following a rapid counterattack, while Iñaki Williams missed a late chance to widen the margin. Referee Mateo Busquets oversaw the fixture in front of 20,902 spectators in Vigo, issuing yellow cards to Athletic players Yuri, Navarro, and Gere during a competitive second half.
Early-Season Momentum and Familiar Defensive Struggles
The result extends a concerning trend for Celta, who repeat their poor start from the previous season despite earning praise last year for keeping their goalless in 10 matches.
