Celta Vigo beat Alavés 2-1 at Balaidos.

The LaLiga encounter between Celta Vigo and Alavés unfolded on 18 October 2026 at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo. Both sides entered the match looking to claim three points, and the home crowd witnessed a tightly contested game that was decided within the regular 90 minutes.

How it unfolded

The first notable incident came early in the first half when Celta Vigo defender Sebastián Cáceres was shown a yellow card in the 15th minute for a bad foul. Play continued, and the half-time whistle was followed by a similar booking for Alavés forward Toni Martínez in the 45th minute, also for a bad foul.

The deadlock was broken shortly after the break when Ferran Jutglà put Celta Vigo ahead in the 53rd minute. Receiving a through ball from Javi Rodríguez, the forward unleashed a left-footed shot from the centre of the box that curled into the bottom right corner, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Celta Vigo doubled their advantage in the 71st minute. Javi Rodríguez, who had supplied the earlier assist, turned the tables by finding the net himself. After an assist from Iago Aspas, Rodríguez struck a right-footed finish from the right side of the six-yard box, sending the ball to the bottom left corner and making it 2-0.

Alavés fought back in the closing stages. In the 87th minute, Hugo Novoa reduced the deficit after a fast break. Mariano Díaz delivered a pass from the right side of the box, and Novoa finished with a left-footed shot that slipped into the top left corner, bringing the score to 2-1. No further goals were recorded, and the match ended with Celta Vigo preserving their lead.

Standout performers

  • Ferran Jutglà – Scored the opening goal for Celta Vigo, capitalising on a well-timed through ball from Javi Rodríguez.
  • Javi Rodríguez – Provided the assist for the first goal and added the second goal himself, showcasing his influence in the attacking third.
  • Iago Aspas – Delivered the decisive pass that set up Rodríguez’s second-half strike.
  • Hugo Novoa – Scored Alavés’ consolation goal, finishing a quick transition created by Mariano Díaz.

Match facts

  • Final score: Celta Vigo 2-1 Alavés
  • Scorers: Ferran Jutglà (53'), Javi Rodríguez (71'); Hugo Novoa (87')
  • Assists: Javi Rodríguez (53'), Iago Aspas (71'), Mariano Díaz (87')
  • Bookings: Sebastián Cáceres (Celta Vigo) – 15', Toni Martínez (Alavés) – 45'
  • Venue: Balaidos, Vigo

What it means

The win gives Celta Vigo three points from the match, while Alavés return home with a single point after their narrow defeat. Both clubs will look to build on these performances in their upcoming LaLiga fixtures.