Celta keep European dream alive with hard-fought Getafe stalemate

Celta Vigo continue their impressive away form with a resolute goalless draw at the Coliseum, keeping them firmly in the hunt for European qualification despite a scrappy affair in Madrid.

European ambitions intact

The Galicians might not have nicked all three points, but this stalemate keeps them right in the mixer for continental football next season. With Espanyol just a point ahead in sixth and Betis only two points clear in fifth, Celta haven’t lost any ground in what would be a proper result for the club if they pull it off.

While gaffer Claudio Giráldez keeps banging on about securing survival first, the reality is they’re now sitting pretty with a nine-point cushion above the drop zone with 16 matches still to play. Not too shabby at all, especially considering they’re still going strong in Europe as well.

Road warriors

This latest away point brings their total to a seriously impressive 19 points collected on their travels this season. For a club that’s historically struggled away from Balaídos, that’s absolute mustard.

Tactical tweaks

Giráldez, true to form, wasn’t shy about ringing the changes after their European exploits. The boss made five alterations to the side that faced Red Star Belgrade, with young Fer López getting his first start after his dazzling 30-minute cameo in Serbia. The youngster put in a solid 80-minute shift before being hooked.

Tough going

Marcos Alonso summed up the match perfectly, noting they were “a bit uncomfortable in the first half” but improved after the break. Getafe, as anyone who’s watched them knows, make life difficult with their distinctive brand of football that tends to drag opponents into the trenches.

While the transfer window chatter threatened to overshadow the actual football this weekend, Celta kept their focus on the pitch and walked away with a point that keeps their European dreams ticking along nicely.