6 DAYS AGO • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
CELTA VIGO
9-7-10 · 10TH IN LA LIGA
Next Match vs Almería (H) · Sun 8:00AM
CEL -189 TOTAL 2.5
How a plate of octopus helped USMNT's Luca de la Torre settle in at Celta Vigo and become a fan favorite All it seemingly took was a plate of octopus to turn around the club fortunes of U.S. midfielder Luca de la Torre, who become a fan favorite...
With new coach, Spain aims to boost scoring against Norway
Luis de la Fuente will get his first test as Spain's new coach when it hosts Norway in Malaga on Saturday to start their campaign to qualify for the 2024 European ChampionshipMARCH 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Augusto Solari - Ruled out 3-4 weeks with thigh injury Solari is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a muscular injury in his thigh, Celta Vigo announced Thursday.
Impact Solari suffered this injury against Espanyol last weekend, and he's now expected to be sidelined at least until mid-April while recovering. He's made 11 La Liga appearances this season with just two starts -- the most coming at the beginning of October -- so his absence won't affect Celta's XI very much.
MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE
Gabriel Veiga - Missing internationals with injury Veiga is withdrawing from the Spanish u-21 team for this March international window due to some hamstring discomfort, Celta Vigo announced Tuesday.
Impact Veiga scored his ninth goal of the season Saturday in Celta's final match before the international break, but Veiga will not link up with the Spanish youth national team as he will be recovering from this injury instead. He will hope to be able to return to action by the April 2 La Liga clash against Almeria.
MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE
Oscar - Available for selection Oscar is available for selection after serving a one-match ban due to yellow card accumulation.
Impact Oscar picked up a fifth yellow card during a 3-0 win over Vallecano, earning him a one-match ban. The midfielder will hope to return for an Apr. 2 clash with Almeria, though he's been purely a depth option off the bench of late, with just two starts since the World Cup break.
MARCH 20 • ROTOWIRE
Gabriel Veiga - Opens the scoring Saturday Veiga scored a goal with his lone shot while crossing once inaccurately and creating a chance during Saturday's 3-1 win over Espanyol.
Impact Veiga found the back of the net in the 26th minute opening the scoring in the match. The goal was the ninth in 25 appearances for the midfielder to go along with three assists in what has been a breakout campaign for the 20-year old.
MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE
Carles Perez - Involved in two of three goals Perez had an assist while creating two chances and scored a goal with his lone shot during Saturday's 3-1 win over Espanyol.
Impact Perez set up Gabriel Veiga in the 26th minute before scoring himself in the 82nd to play a role in two of Celta Vigo's three goals. The assist was a team-leading fourth of the season for the midfielder while the goal was his first in 25 appearances.
MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE
Franco Cervi - Assists as substitute Cervi had an assist with his lone chance created during Saturday's 3-1 win over Espanyol.
Impact Cervi set up Carles Perez in the 82nd minute after entering the match as a substitute in the 69th. The assist was the third in 25 appearances for the midfielder tying him for the second most on the club.
MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE
Ivan Villar - Beaten once in win Villar allowed a goal while making two saves during Saturday's 3-1 win over Espanyol.
Impact Villar conceded a goal in the 86th minute but was backed with three goals during Saturday's win. The keeper has now allowed six goals in seven league starts while his two saves upped his season total to 20.
MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE
Iago Aspas - Converts penalty in win Aspas scored a goal while taking three shots (one on goal) during Saturday's 3-1 win over Espanyol.
Impact Aspas found the back of the net in the 45th minute, converting a penalty for Celta Vigo's second goal. The goal was the 12th in 26 appearances for the forward, tying him for the second highest total in La Liga through Saturday's match.
MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE
MATCHDAY: Kompany back to face Man City in FA Cup
Manchester City hosts Burnley and manager Vincent Kompany in the FA Cup quarterfinals on SaturdayMARCH 17 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chelsea's Kepa back for Spain in De la Fuente's first squad
New Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has recalled Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga along with several veteran players for his first squad since replacing Luis Enrique ahead of Eur...MARCH 17 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gio Reyna on US roster after family tried to oust Berhalter
Gio Reyna has been elected by interim coach Anthony Hudson for the United States' CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada and El SalvadorMARCH 15 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oscar - Handed suspension Oscar recorded one shot (zero on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Saturday's 3-0 win against Rayo Vallecano. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 75th minute.
Impact Oscar was shown his fifth yellow card of the season and will serve a one-match ban Saturday against Espanyol. He is eligible to return on Apr 2 versus Almeria.
MARCH 15 • ROTOWIRE
Renato Tapia - Serves three-game suspension Tapia (suspension) sat out Celta Vigo's 3-0 win Saturday versus Rayo Vallecano.
Impact Without the suspended Tapia, Celta Vigo played three games from Feb. 26 to March 11. The team maintained a clean sheet each matchup. Tapia may not be a preferred option when Celta Vigo is at Espanyol on March 18, still his first opportunity to play post-suspension.
MARCH 11 • ROTOWIRE
Kevin Vazquez - Absence beneficiary Saturday Kevin generated two tackles (two won) and two clearances in Saturday's 3-0 win against Rayo Vallecano.
Impact Hugo Mallo (one-game suspension) and Oscar Mingueza (thigh) were unavailable Saturday. Thus, Celta Vigo reverted to its third right-back. Kevin did his part to help maintain another clean sheet for the team. Mallo's suspension ended Saturday though, so Kevin is expected to be back serving as a substitute again moving forward.
MARCH 11 • ROTOWIRE
Hugo Mallo - Serves one-match ban Mallo fulfilled his one-game suspension during Celta Vigo's 3-0 win Saturday versus Rayo Vallecano.
Impact Currently, Mallo is expected to be Celta Vigo's starting right-back next Saturday at Espanyol. With the suspension fulfilled, his presumed availability will demote Kevin back to a substitute role.
MARCH 11 • ROTOWIRE
Joseph Aidoo - Records five clearances Aidoo generated one tackle (one won), five clearances and two interceptions in Saturday's 3-0 win against Rayo Vallecano.
Impact Celta Vigo maintained a clean sheet during each of the team's three games from Feb. 26 to March 11. Aidoo averaged 7.0 clearances across the dates. Despite his rate decreasing against Rayo Vallecano, he still logged a better clearance tally than all of his teammates did Saturday.
MARCH 11 • ROTOWIRE
Iago Aspas - Records brace Aspas scored two goals to go with four shots (two on goal), two crosses (zero accurate) and two chances created in Saturday's 3-0 win against Rayo Vallecano.
Impact Aspas logged his first brace since Sept. 2. From that date to March 11, he recorded eight goals and three assists across 22 appearances. That is a contribution every two games, a great rate of 0.5 per matchup.
MARCH 11 • ROTOWIRE
Javi Galan - Finally logs assist again Galan assisted once to go with six crosses (three accurate) and three corners in Saturday's 3-0 win against Rayo Vallecano.
Impact Galan logged the assist to Celta Vigo's first goal, which Iago Aspas scored. The assist was his first since Aug. 13, having recorded 23 appearances from that date to March 11.
MARCH 11 • ROTOWIRE
Ivan Villar - Another sheet clean Villar registered three saves and secured a clean sheet in Saturday's 3-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano.
Impact Villar saved shots from Florian Lejeune, Alvaro Garcia and Raul de Tomas. The goalkeeper maintained a clean sheet during each of his three appearances from Feb. 26 to March 11. During the three-appearance span, Villar logged 11 saves and two clearances.
MARCH 11 • ROTOWIRE
Oscar Mingueza - Not on team sheet Mingueza (thigh) will not be an option for Saturday's match against Rayo Vallecano.
Impact Mingueza will miss his third match in a row with a thigh injury. This will cause problems for the team with Hugo Mallo and Renato Tapia out on suspension. This means they will have to use Kevin in right back, who has only made one start in four appearances all season.
MARCH 10 • ROTOWIRE
Iago Aspas - Scoring drought continues Aspas had two shots (zero on target) and two chances created in Monday's 0-0 draw versus Osasuna.
Impact Aspas has failed to find the back of the net for the fifth match in a row, falling out of the top three goal scorer spot in the league. Prior to this, he had scored three goals in seven games and five in his first six contests. The forward may not have the best of luck getting a goal with a visit from Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, who have allowed just three goals in the last five matches. Aspas has also failed to score a goal against the opponent in the last three outings against them.
MARCH 7 • ROTOWIRE
Fran Beltran - Completes six interceptions Beltran recorded two crosses (zero accurate) and two corners in Monday's 0-0 draw against Osasuna.
Impact Beltran is continuing his top form of late, totaling now 18 interceptions, eight crosses (two accurate), nine clearances and eight tackles (six won) in the last five matches. He had only 13 interceptions in his previous 13 games. Despite not getting on the scoresheet often, the 24-year-old is managing to contribute both offensive and defensive for Celta Vigo each contest, especially after already surpassing his career high of interceptions for a season.
MARCH 7 • ROTOWIRE
Luca De la Torre - Quiet against Osasuna De la Torre had one shot (zero on goal) in Monday's 0-0 draw versus Osasuna. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 13th minute.
Impact De la Torre got the start Monday after participating in limited training due to an undisclosed injury. He should be happy with the playing time given to him thus far, starting in the last seven matches in a row while generating two assists, nine chances created and nine tackles (four won) in that span.
MARCH 7 • ROTOWIRE
