Celta Vigo welcomed Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday knowing that three points would move them into the top half of the La Liga table.
They made the best possible start after eight minutes when Mario Bermejo opened the scoring, but Deportivo were level after 29 minutes when Juan Rodriguez slotted home from inside the box.
The home side were reduced to 10 men in the second period when Gustavo Cabral was given his marching orders, but the score remained level at 1-1.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Good evening all! Our second live Spanish commentary of the weekend pairs two sides that are in desperate need of securing some points. Celta have struggled away from home this season, but they are notoriously strong on their own patch.
Team News: Michael Krohn-Dehl, Bermejo and Iago Aspas will lead the line for the home side. Meanwhile, Riki and Pizzi continue in attack for Deportivo.
Teams:
Celta Vigo: Varas; Mallo, Cabral, Lago, Arceo; Oubina, Lopez, Fernandez; Bermejo, Aspas, Krohn-Dehli
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Ze Castro, Laure, Ayoze, Marchena, Bergantinos; Dominguez, Valeron, Gama; Pizzi, Riki
Here we go then. Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Let's get this match underway. It does not look the best of evenings in Spain!
Deportivo kick us off and immediately play play the ball long, but Lago is there with a thumping header.
Bright start from Deportivo as Pizzi and Riki combine to force a corner, but Mallo clears the danger with his goalkeeper Javi Varas struggling.
Just a reminder that Celta Vigo have won three of their four home league games this season. Meanwhile, Deportivo have lost their last four. But it is the away side making the early running.
First real attack from the home side as Krohn-Dehli searches out Aspas, but Laure is on hand to clear the danger. Real end-to-end stuff at the moment.
Really busy start from Aspas as he pops up in the centre before winning possession for the home side on the left. He has not stopped running in this opening eight minutes. It's been a lively start from both sides.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 1-0 Deportivo (Bermejo)
The home side lead as Mario Bermejo taps home at the far post after good work from Aspas. Where was the defending?
That's really poor defending from the away side. One ball and Aspas was in on goal. In fairness though, Deportivo have been the better side thus far.
The frustration continues for the away side as Pizzi is ruled offside. They just need to settle down on the ball. It's been such an all-action start.
Chance for the home side to have a shot on goal as Bermejo is felled outside the box, but Aspas's effort is straight into the wall as the pressure continues.
Chance! Excellent chance for Celta Vigo to take a 2-0 lead as Lago meets a free kick inside the box, but the defender just clips it wide. The pressure is all coming from the home side at the moment.
Both sides are carrying a threat as we approach the 20-minute mark. In Pizzi and Riki, Deportivo do have players that can score goals. But they are just so so open in defence.
Half-chance for Deportivo as Riki picks up possession inside the box, but his effort is deflected off Lago and behind for a corner - which is wasted.
Still the away side continue to threaten in attack, but one long pass splits their defence open wide. Surely there will be a host of goals in this one. Let's hope so anyway!
Long-range effort from Riki threatens to test the goalkeeper, but Varas lets the ball drift over his crossbar. There is a good atmosphere in this derby match.
The match remains end-to-end with both sides carrying a threat. Riki has been the danger man for Deportivo thus far, but Celta look dangerous in every attack.
First sign of ill-feeling between the two sides as a host of bitty challenges interupt the flow of the game. Meanwhile, it remains incredibly open.
Deportivo continue to pass and probe outside the Celta box. However, Lago and Mallo combine to clear the danger.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 1-1 Deportivo (Dominguez)
Deportivo level the match as Valeron finds Juan Dominguez inside the box and the midfielder slots the ball home.
There was a hint of offside in that goal, but the linesman kept his flag down. I just cannot see this match not bringing goals. My prediction is 3-3!
Both sides continue to launch their own attacks as we surpass the 30-minute mark in the match. It is almost like they are taking turns.
It's bright work from Deportivo as Laure whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Lago clears the danger. The away side do look more threatening in advanced areas.
Still Deportivo remain on the attack as we enter the latter stages of the opening period. Pizzi comes close with an effort, but Mallo is on hand to make a smart block.
The flow of Deportivo pressure is just interrupted by a couple of dangerous challenges from the home side. Meanwhile, Marchena throws himself to the ground under the challenge of Aspas.
The match has just become ever so bitty in the past few moments with both sides getting involved in little scraps. Suddenly we have a derby match on our hands.
Half-chance for the home side as Arceo meets a Lopez corner, but his header is straight at Aranzubia. Meanwhile, Deportivo launch an attack of their own moments later.
It remains end-to-end stuff as the half approaches its final minute. Meanwhile, Marchena is in danger of getting himself sent off for the away side.
The referee indicates that we will play an additional one minute at the end of the half.
Celta Vigo 1-1 Deportivo
So there we have it. An entertaining half of football is brought to an end with Celta Vigo and Deportivo level at 1-1.
Celta opened the scoring after eight minutes when Bermejo converted at the far post, but the away side levelled the score just shy of 30 minutes when Dominguez slotted home.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half. Deportivo have dominated possession with 56%, but they have had two shots to Celta's four.
Both sides look threatening in advanced areas, but you worry that the Deportivo defence will collapse at any moment. I just cannot see the score remaining the same in the second 45.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of the second period. Let's hope for more of the same.
Celta kick us off in the second half. Can they continue their fine recent record at home? Or will Deportivo secure a much-needed three points?
Chance! Early opportunity for the home side as Lago feeds Krohn-Dehli down the right, but his strike is just wide of the post. The second period has started with the same tempo as the first.
Decent spell of possession for the away side as Valeron combines with Riki before releasing Pizzi, but his strike is blocked. Meanwhile, Celta have a corner cleared at the other end.
RED CARD: Cabral: Celta are down to 10 men as Cabral is sent off for a second yellow card. It was soft and Riki made the most of the challenge.
Pizzi strikes a rasping effort towards the near post from the resulting free kick, but Varas pushes it wide. We have a real derby on our hands now.
Meanwhile, the home side make a change as Samuel replaces Bermejo. Deportivo are carrying the main threat at the moment.
It's been a strong response from Celta in the past few moments, but the sending off has given Deportivo the upper hand. Little over 30 minutes of football remaining.
Still both sides go in search of their second with attack after attack. However, neither can find that elusive final ball at the moment.
So nearly a chance for Deportivo as Valeron searches out the run of Pizzi, but Varas just collects the danger. This match remains a clear of example of end-to-end football as Lago fires wide from inside the box.
Half-chance for Deportivo as Ayoze finds Pizzi with a long throw, but Varas collects once more. Meanwhile, the away side make a change as Riki is replaced by Nelson Oliveira.
Deportivo are well in control of this match at the moment. Pizzi threatens with a rasping cross, but Mallo heads the danger clear. You still get the feeling that there are more goals in this one.
Meanwhile, the attacking threat from the home side is very laboured. They seem unprepared to commit too many players forward. The sending off has changed the tempo of the match.
Pizzi remains a threat for Deportivo, but he tries too much once more and loses possession. Not a great deal happening in terms of chances at the moment.
Chance! Best football of the second period from Celta as Lopez finds Aspas in the box, but the striker can only curl his effort past the post. Wonderful football.
Half-chance for the away side as Oliveira meets a Valeron cross in the box, but he heads just wide of the target. You can just sense that there is another goal in this match.
Celta have the ball in the back of the net as Arceo heads home from close range, but the defender was a yard offside. The celebrations are cut short. Little under 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
Change for the away side as Valeron is replaced by Javier Camunas. Meanwhile, Celta have just started to threaten once more in the past few moments.
Half-chance for Deportivo this time as Gama attempts to find Pizzi in the box, but Lago heads the danger clear. Meanwhile, change for the home side as Toni replaces Fernandez.
The match remains end-to-end as we approach the latter stages. Both sides want the three points that is for certain. Meanwhile, Celta are preparing their final change.
The final change is made as Aspas is replaced by Park Chu-young. Can the on-loan Arsenal forward inspire Celta in the final five minutes?
It's smart work from Oubina as he attempts to feed Park behind the Deportivo defence, but the flag is raised. Meanwhile, the away side force a corner down the other end.
Both sides continue to exchange attacks as we approach the final minute. Neither is prepared to settle for a point. Meanwhile, final change for Deportivo as Gama is replaced by Tiago Pinto.
The referee indicates an additional three minutes of time. Will we have a winner in the final moments?
The ill-feeling continues in the final moments as both sides give away a host of free kicks. It appears that the points will be shared in this derby match. Unless...
Celta Vigo 1-1 Deportivo
So there we have it. Deportivo hold 10-man Celta Vigo to a 1-1 draw in their La Liga clash. The result leaves Celta in 11th spot in the table, while Deportivo remain in the bottom three. Thanks for joining Sports Mole and stay with us for Rayo Vallecano vs. Barcelona. Until then!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
