Celta Vigo welcomed Levante to the Estadio de Balaidos on Sunday looking for the three points that would have moved them away from the bottom three in La Liga.
They dominated the opening half of action and led at the interval courtesy of a strike from Enrique De Lucas after 27 minutes.
The second period was more of an even contest and there was to be late drama as Roger Marti pounced in the box to secure an unlikely point for Levante in the final minute.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live coverage below.
Evening all! Our penultimate live La Liga commentary of the weekend pits a struggling Celta side against a Levante outfit that are harbouring hopes of European football. I have a feeling that this one could be a real classic.
Teams:
Celta Vigo: Varas; Mallo, Lago, Arceo, Cabral; Oubina, Lopez, Fernandez; Aspas, De Lucas, Krohn-Dehli
Levante: Munua; Navarro, Garcia, Ballesteros, Lell; Barkero, Iborra, Lopez, Diop; El Zhar, Martins
Both sides have managed two wins apiece from the last five meetings between the two teams, but Celta have not beaten Levante since winning 3-1 in 2008. That said, much has changed at both clubs since then.
Levante also enter the match in the better run of form having picked up three wins from their last five matches in all competitions. That is in contrast to Celta who have suffered three defeats in the same period, picking up just a singular three points.
Here we go then. Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Passionate supporters? Check. Let's get this La Liga clash underway. It is a mild evening in Spain but the home crowd has come out in force. Let's hope for a match full of goals.
Celta Vigo get the action underway at the Estadio de Balaidos. Both of these sides are in desperate need of the three points, but for very different reasons. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there is one - could be all-important in this type of match.
Bright start from the home side with De Lucas and Iago Aspas causing problems with their direct running. Meanwhile, the first effort of the match comes from Alex Lopez as the midfielder strikes over the crossbar from inside the box. High-tempo opening.
Celta have certainly started the match on the front foot with decent possession in midfield. A long passing move eventually finds its way to Aspas on the edge of the penalty area, but his effort is turned wide by Munua. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is headed clear by David Navarro.
Nothing much from Levante in the early stages of the match but they do have a real threat on the counter with the pace of Obafemi Martins. The former Newcastle United striker has caused teams all sorts of problems this season and I expect the same this evening. But the tempo of the match is with Celta after seven minutes of football.
The pace of the away side is shown as Iborra finds the run of Barkero down the right, but the midfielder is just beaten to the ball by Javi Varas and the danger is cleared. It is a typical away performance from Levante. Sit in and hope for something on the counter attack.
Not a great deal to report in terms of chances in the past few moments, but Levante are certainly enjoying more possession of the ball. Celta force a chance down the other end as De Lucas finds Krohn-Dehli in the box, but the Dane is ruled offside just as he shoots wide.
Slightly scrappy period to the match at the moment with both sides failing to keep hold of possession for any meaningful period. Meanwhile, a couple of fouls and an injury to El Zhar has also contributed to a start-stop few minutes.
CHANCE! Clearest opening of the match for the away side as Barkero finds Martins in the penalty area. The striker meets the ball on the half-volley, but his effort is straight at Varas and behind for a corner. It really should be 1-0 to Levante.
Celta force a half-chance down the other end as De Lucas finds Aspas in the penalty area, but the striker can only hook his effort over the crossbar. Meanwhile, Cabral fires a strike wide of the target moments later.
Real end-to-end period of the match at the moment with both sides committing numbers to each attack. The chance for Celta falls to Aspas, but he cannot sort out his feet and the danger is cleared. Meanwhile, Martins comes within a whisker of gathering a searching pass from Diop down the other end.
Again it's smart football from Levante with Martins, Diop and El Zhar all involved with nice touches. But the final pass to Barkero is just short and the danger is cleared for a throw. It has been that type of match thus far. Everything has been 'nearly' there.
The referee has done well to keep his cards in his pocket in the opening 23 minutes of this one. There's another cynical challenge as Aspas is chopped down by Christian Lell, but the referee refuses to take his name. This match is just crying out for some invention at the moment.
Half-chance for the home side as smart passing eventually releases De Lucas in the penalty area, but he can only volley straight at Munua. It would have taken an absolute worldie to beat the goalkeeper from that angle. But at least both sides are now testing the stoppers.
Levante advance immediately down the other end and come close as Martins strikes an effort from outside the box, but it just moved wide of the post. It has been a watchable opening 27 minutes of football, rather than a spectacular one.
Again the combination of Barkero and Martins threatens the Celta defence, but Roberto Lago steps across to clear the danger. I really want to see more from Nabil El Zhar. The former Liverpool winger has been a passenger for his side for large periods of this season. He will probably score five goals now.
Celta continue to look the better side on the ball, but they are really lacking that cutting edge. The best chance of the match thus far has fallen to Martins, but he could not convert for the away side. It is so delicately poised at the moment.
Half-chance for the home side as Cabral whips a dangerous cross into the penalty area, but Krohn-Dehli can only head his effort straight at the goalkeeper. That could be their best route to goal with two banks of four blocking their passing style.
Another half-chance comes to the home side as De Lucas whips a dangerous cross towards Aspas, but the striker can only flick his header wide of the post. Celta are certainly playing the better football with little over 10 minutes of the half remaining.
Everything from Levante continues to be hit long as Martins attempts to gather possession against two big strong central defenders. There is not much movement from the away side as they stick to their two banks of four in a defensive area.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 1-0 Levante (De Lucas)
Celta take the lead eight minutes before the interval as Aspas finds De Lucas in the penalty area and the striker converts from close range.
It was the experienced defender Juanfran that was playing De Lucas onside in that move. Although replays have suggested that the striker may well have been leaning past the final defender. Not that it matters now. The home side lead.
Celta really are working hard at the moment as they continue to hassle and harry Levante. There is simply no room in the middle of midfield for the away side to play and therefore they are struggling to find the dangerous Martins. It is all going according to plan for Celta.
Decent spell of pressure from the away side at the end of the half as they force a couple of throws in an advanced position, but Martins continues to lose the aerial battle against the two central defenders. Meanwhile, the speedy striker is denied by a diving challenge from Alex Lopez moments later.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute of football at the end of the half. It has been a very successful opening period for Celta Vigo. But we all know how quickly football can change.
Celta Vigo 1-0 Levante
So there we have it. A singular strike from De Lucas is enough to hand Celta Vigo the lead over Levante at the interval. It has been a half of few chances, but the home side have certainly played the better football.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half. Celta have dominated the possession with 70%, while they have had seven attempts to Levante's three. Aspas has been the star of the show for the home side thus far. But Martins is a real threat on the counter for Levante.
As it stands Celta would move into 13th spot in the La Liga table. Meanwhile, Levante would remain in eighth. But you just get the feeling that the scoring is not finished in this match. The goal means that Levante must break from their shape in search of the leveller.
Just a reminder that we have action from Real Mallorca vs. Real Zaragoza following the completion of this match. It has been another pulsating day of action in Spain's top division. We also have tomorrow's Spanish football covered as Sevilla host Real Valladolid.
Here we go then. Levante get us underway in the second period. No changes for either side at the interval. Can the away side respond and move into fifth spot in the table? They have not lost any of their previous three away matches in La Liga.
CHANCE! It's brilliant play from Krohn-Dehli as the Dane beats his man before whipping a low cross into the penalty area, but De Lucas just cannot make contact. All it needed was a slight touch. How crucial could that prove to be?
Celta continue to play the better of the football in the early stages of the second period. Oubina comes close with an effort from distance, but it deflected wide for a corner. Meanwhile, the set piece is punched clear by Varas.
First real piece of attacking intent from Levante in this half as Barkero fires a good looking cross into the penalty area, but Lago just makes contact as El Zhar lines up the strike. This is as well as the home side have played all season. But Levante are known as a side who score a lot of goals in the second period of matches.
Decent shooting opportunity for Levante as Iborra is felled by Alex Lopez. Barkero stands over the free kick, but his effort is straight at the goalkeeper. It really has to be better than that. Meanwhile, Juanlu picks up a yellow card for a foul on Aspas.
Real end-to-end period of the match at the moment as both sides flood forward with numbers. This time the chance comes to the home side as Aspas pounces on a loose ball inside the penalty area, but the danger is just cleared by Ballesteros. Meanwhile, it appears that the away side are readying a change.
Barkero remains the main threat for the away side as he dances past two challenges before being chopped down. However, his free kick is headed wide of the target by Ballesteros. Having got there it really should have been a better effort. Little over 30 minutes of football remaining.
Levante have certainly upped the tempo in the final few moments as Martins strikes an effort just wide of the target. But they still cannot find the leveller. I would not be surprised to see a host of changes from both sides as the match advances.
CHANCE! Another opportunity comes to the away side as Juanlu whips a low cross into the penalty area, but Martins just cannot make contact. Meanwhile, De Lucas comes close with a similar effort down the other end.
The match is so delicately poised at the moment with both sides creating chances. Levante have certainly become more of a threat, but everything is through Martins, who does appear to be struggling with an injury. We have seen relatively little from the home side as an attacking force in this half.
CHANCE! Varas has an absolute horror show as he loses control of a spinning ball inside the penalty area. Martins is on hand to pounce, but the goalkeeper manages to collect at the second time of asking. The game is so stretched at the moment.
CHANCE! Oh my word. It should be 2-0 as Cabral meets a free kick from Krohn-Dehli inside the box, but he is twice denied on the line by Varas and Juanfran. Meanwhile, change for the home side as De Lucas is replaced by Mario Bermejo.
Celta continue to play the better football as we approach the final 20 minutes. Meanwhile, frustration continues to grow for the away side as they give away free kick after free kick. You just get the feeling that there is another goal in this match.
First change for the home side as Juanlu is replaced by Michel Herrero. A defender for a striker. Levante are going to attempt to take the game to Celta in the remaining minutes of the match. It is incredible just how stretched it is at the moment.
Big penalty shout for the home side as Aspas is felled in the penalty area by David Navarro, but the referee shakes his head and points for a corner. Any danger there?! The defender just shoved the striker to the ground. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is cleared from the danger zone.
Another change for the home side as Alex Lopez is replaced by Cristian Bustos. It appeared that the midfielder was carrying a slight injury. Celta continue to keep possession well with less than 15 minutes remaining.
Again it's really smart work from Krohn-Dehli as he whips a high cross into the penalty area, but Aspas just cannot make contact and it drifts out of play. Meanwhile, another change for Levante as Diop is replaced by Roger Marti.
Right we have little under 10 minutes of football remaining. Levante remain a threat on the counter through Martins, but the home side have dominated possession for the majority of the evening and that is the case now. They come close once more with an effort from Aspas, but it moves wide of the target.
Still no sign of the late flurry of Levante chances as the home side pass and keep possession in the middle of midfield. Meanwhile, Aspas remains such a danger with his movement and energy. He has been their best player this evening.
Another chance for Krohn-Delhi as he strikes an effort from outside the box, but it just misses the target. Meanwhile, another change for the home side as Aspas is replaced by Park Chu-young.
Little over three minutes of normal time remaining and the home side still lead. They have the ball in the back of the net as Bermejo converts from close range, but the offside flag is raised.
It must be said that Celta are ever so comfortable in dealing with the Levante threat. It is almost as if the away side have just settled for the 1-0 loss? We have seen nothing from Martins & Co. since the interval. But you fancy they might have one last chance.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 1-1 Levante (Roger Marti)
Oh my word. What have I just said? Levante level in the final minute as Marti pounces on a loose ball inside the area to tap home from close range.
What a finish to this match. The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional four minutes of added time. Is there time for a winner?
Suddenly Levante are full of life as they burst forward through Roger, but the danger is quelled at the vital moment. How on earth is this match level? Celta have dominated from start to finish. But the score doesn't lie.
CHANCE! Glorious opportunity for the home side to win it as Bermejo meets a cross inside the penalty area, but somehow he can only head over the crossbar. That is going to be about it.
Celta Vigo 1-1 Levante
So there we have it. A late showing from Levante is enough to secure an unlikely point against Celta Vigo. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and stay with us for action from Mallorca.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
