Celta Vigo edge past Athletic Bilbao

Celta Vigo have registered a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Copa del Rey round-of-32 tie.

The hosts were under pressure for much of the first half at the Balaidos, but stepped up their game after the restart, with Manuel Nolito going close twice in the opening 15 minutes of the second period.

Bilbao then created two chances of their own after the hour mark but Iker Muniain was first thwarted by goalkeeper Alvarez Sergio Fernandez and then failed to hit the target.

Celta eventually broke the deadlock on 71 minutes through Santi Mina, who collected a loose back-pass and made no mistake in slotting home from close range.

The visitors could have restored parity in the final minute of normal time when Mikel Rico tried his luck with a long-range effort, but Fernandez made a good save.