Searching for a finish inside the European positions for the first time in six years, Celta endured a tricky opening half, with the hosts forced to come from behind twice during a frantic 45 minutes. Srđan Babić kicked the scoring off after just seven minutes, when the defender looped a header over the head of goalkeeper Iván Villar. It was a lead that lasted just three minutes, as Haris Seferovic latched onto Gabri Veiga’s well-timed cross to level things up for Celta.
Despite struggling during their return to the top flight this season, Almería still hold a chance of retaining their La Liga status and the plucky outsiders once again edged their noses in front midway through the half. This time via Arnau Puigmal, who was in the right place at the right time to tap home into an empty net following Luis Suárez’s dazzling run. However, as had been the case earlier in the half, Celta would strike back again, with Carles Pérez guiding a long-range strike beyond Fernando Martínez to ensure both teams entered the break on level terms.
After a breathless first half, both sets of players may have been excused for taking their foot off the gas in the second period, but both Celta and Almería continued to push for a decisive third goal. Suárez would be presented with a clear opening of the Celta goal, but the experienced striker failed to keep his composure and convert. Whereas at the opposite end, Celta’s main threat would come from their wide men, whose teasing crosses into the box were unable to be turned home by the hosts’ attackers, all before Iago Aspas was denied a spectacular winner by the crossbar late on.
However, the best chance of the half fell to Samú Costa from six yards, but with the goal gaping, the Portuguese midfielder somehow spurned his right-footed effort wide of the far post. A golden opportunity for the side from the south of Spain, whose wretched run in La Liga stretches to one win from eight outings and keeps them inside the bottom three.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Luis Suárez (Almería)
