RC Celta - Athletic Club

RC Celta beat Athletic Club 2-1 in Vigo on Wednesday night. The hosts came from a goal down after scoring two goals between the 68th and 71st minute. 

Everything was going well for the Lions when Alex Berenguer scored straight from a corner in the first half, but Los Celestes, in the midst of a relegation battle, managed to turn the game around.

Raúl García equalised in stoppage time, but the referee ruled it out for a soft foul.

Athletic wave goodbye to their chances of Champions League football and will have to hope for Betis and Real Sociedad to trip up on Thursday night or Sevilla's visit to San Mames this weekend to wrap up fifth place.

Be that as it may, what is a reality is that Athletic Club will play in the Europa League next season, a return to continental competition after a six-season absence.

In a Balaídos stunned by Cádiz CF's last-minute win in Seville, Ernesto Valverde opted for a much-changed starting XI full of fresh legs and a players keen to prove a point.

Carles Pérez tested Unai Simon with a left-footed effort in the seventh minute, but the Lions were mostly on top and looked comfortable.

Beyond wanting to push Atletico to the end for a Champions League spot, this match was a matter of dignity for the Zurigorri. And in that respect, they were outstanding in the first half.

They took the lead via Berenguer, whose seventh goal of the season is one he'll never forget. Iván Villar, who was substituting for the injured Vicente Guaita, could do little to keep out the winger's perfectly struck corner.

Alex regularly threatened in the first 45. Unai Gomez got on the end of one of the no.7's crosses but his header was blocked and then the winger almost caught Villar off-guard with a cross-cum-shot from the left flank. 

Celta came out for the second half fired up knowing they needed a least a point to further distance themselves from the drop zone.

Jorgen Strand Larsen hit the woodwork with a header early on and after Julen Agirrezabala replaced  Simón on the hour mark, the Vigo outfit scored twice between the 68th and 71st minute.

Hugo Álvarez was involved in both goals, first setting up Williot Swedberg and then thundering in an effort from distance.

Julen was not at fault for either goal and produced a couple of saves to stop further bloodshed.

Athletic kept looking for an equaliser and were unlucky when Raúl García's header from Iñigo Lekue's cross was ruled out for a soft foul on Carl Starfelt.