SEVILLA, Spain – The La Liga clash between Sevilla FC and Celta de Vigo unfolded at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium on December 14, 2024, concluding with a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Sevilla, courtesy of rising star Manu Bueno's goal.
Before the match, excitement buzzed among the 37,295 spectators as they gathered to witness what was billed as Jesús Navas's final appearance at home. The veteran defender received heartfelt applause throughout the match and left the pitch after the 70th minute, marking the end of an era for the club.
Sevilla aimed to bounce back from their recent 4-3 loss to Atlético Madrid, having struggled to find consistency this season. Despite sitting 13th on the La Liga table, they were determined to claim all three points against Celta, who came to challenge from the 10th position.
The match began with Celta showing early promise, as Pablo Durán carved out two excellent chances. He first blazed his shot wide after being set up by Iago Aspas and later hit the post with a header from a corner after the 18th minute.
While Sevilla looked shaky and seemed preoccupied with the emotional farewell for Navas, they began to stabilize their performance around the half-hour mark. Saúl Ñíguez tried to shift momentum with a long-range shot, but Celta's keeper Guaita was equal to the task, denying the effort just before halftime, which ended with the score still level at 0-0.
The second half sparked to life when Manu Bueno, who had nearly scored earlier with a long-range effort, finally found the net with 65 minutes gone. The young midfielder struck from the edge of the area following a defensive clearance, directing the ball low and hard past the post – leaving Celta's keeper wrong-footed.
Following the goal, Sevilla adopted a defensive posture, opting to hold onto their slender lead. García Pimienta, Sevilla’s coach, took off Navas, signaling the club's intention to protect their advantage rather than extend it. This move led to Sevilla relying heavily on their backline as Celta ramped up the pressure.
Celta sought to equalize, and the final minutes saw them pressing hard. The notable moment came when Alfon González broke through the defensive line and faced Sevilla's keeper Álvaro Fernández, who reacted swiftly to deny him, preserving Sevilla's lead.
Despite struggling for large parts of the match, Sevilla showcased their resilience, defending heroically right until the final whistle, which arrived after seven additional minutes of play.
The win lifted Sevilla's spirits as they move on from their difficult season, which had featured only five wins from 17 matches. Conversely, Celta de Vigo would leave the match disappointed, reflecting on missed opportunities against their rivals.
This match highlighted the tactical depth of Sevilla under Pimienta, who has had to balance attacking flair with defensive stability, particularly after the sizeable defeat against Atlético Madrid. Celta, as well, will have plenty to ponder, having failed to convert their chances, and will need to reassess their forward strategy moving forward.
The upcoming fixtures seem poised to be equally challenging for both teams as Sevilla looks to build on this much-needed victory and Celta to erase the disappointment of letting points slip away.
