Valencia 2-3 Celta Vigo Player Ratings: Guido Rodriguez Scores Twice but Visitors Triumph after 2nd-Half Comeback

In a dramatic Valencia vs Celta Vigo clash at the Estadio de Mestalla, the touring side produced a brilliant second-half comeback to seal a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Valencia CF started the match strongly and looked in full control during the first half. Midfielder Guido Rodríguez gave the home side an early lead, and they went into halftime with a deserved 1-0 advantage. At that stage, Celta Vigo looked short of ideas and struggled to create clear chances.

But the game changed completely after the break.

Celta came out with new energy and quickly turned the match around. Ilaix Moriba scored the equalizer to spark the comeback, before substitutes Fer López and Williot Swedberg made a huge impact from the bench with two important goals. Their goals flipped the score to 3-1, leaving Valencia stunned.

Rodríguez grabbed his second goal late in the game to make it 3-2, setting up a tense finish in front of the Mestalla crowd. However, Celta stayed calm in the final minutes and held on for a memorable away victory.

A major talking point from this Valencia vs Celta Vigo player ratings performance was the influence of Celta’s substitutes. Their bench players changed the game completely and proved to be the difference, while Valencia’s changes failed to have the same effect.

Key Takeaways

1. Guido Rodríguez opened the scoring early to give Valencia a deserved 1-0 lead before halftime.
2. Celta’s substitutes changed the match, with Fer López and Williot Swedberg helping turn 1-0 into 3-1 in the second half.
3. A late Valencia goal created tension, but Celta held firm to complete a stunning 3-2 comeback win.

Celta Vigo Player Ratings vs Valencia

Here are Celta Vigo player ratings from the La Liga match:

Goalkeeper

Ionuț Radu - 6.0: Conceded two goals, but couldn't do much about either clinical finish from Rodríguez. He made two saves, including one from inside the box. What concerned us was his distribution; a 48% pass accuracy isn't good enough and put his team under needless pressure at times.

Defenders

Joseph Aidoo - 6.5: A strange performance to rate. His 100% pass accuracy is genuinely impressive for a center-back. However, he only won half of his duels and seemed to struggle with Valencia's physicality. He did make a couple of important interceptions and four clearances, a mixed bag really.

Marcos Alonso - 6.0: As the captain, we expected more from him. He saw a lot of the ball but struggled defensively, losing four of his five duels. He picked up a silly yellow card and just didn't provide the leadership the backline needed when Valencia were on top in the first half. A passive display.

Javi Rodríguez - 5.5: Lasted only 46 minutes and it's easy to see why. He was booked for a clumsy foul and offered very little going forward. From our perspective, he was a passenger in the first half and his substitution was a key part of the turnaround.

Midfielders

Óscar Mingueza - 6.5: A very busy performance, but one that lacked quality. He was constantly involved, but an error that led to a shot is a significant mark against his name. He lost possession 13 times, which is far too high. His work rate was there, but the end product was not.

Sergio Carreira - 7.0: A solid and reliable display in the middle of the park. He kept the ball moving with an 89% pass accuracy and was composed throughout. He won three of his four duels, showing a good reading of the game. An unsung hero in a chaotic match.

Ilaix Moriba - 9.0: Absolutely sensational. The clear man of the match. He dragged his team back into the game with a crucial goal and then provided a sublime assist for the third. He was everywhere, winning eight duels, creating chances, and dictating play. A truly dominant, game-winning performance that we won't forget anytime soon.

Hugo Sotelo - 7.0: The midfield metronome. His 96% pass accuracy was outstanding, providing the calm Celta needed. He was disciplined, recovered the ball seven times, and kept play ticking over. The yellow card was a slight blot, but it was an otherwise controlled and intelligent performance.

Forwards

Ferran Jutglà - 6.5: A frustrating player to watch. His effort can't be faulted, but his final product was seriously lacking. He had three shots but only tested the keeper once. He also lost eight duels and was dispossessed three times. He needed to be more clinical.

Pablo Durán - 5.0: A complete ghost. He was on the pitch for 46 minutes but only managed eight touches of the ball. He was caught offside twice and contributed absolutely nothing before being rightly hooked at halftime. One of the most anonymous performances we've seen.

Hugo Álvarez - 7.0: Looked like one of Celta's few bright sparks in the first half. He was tidy in possession and looked to make things happen with his dribbling. We were personally surprised to see him substituted at halftime, as he seemed a threat.

Substitutes

Fer López - 8.0: What an impact. Came on at halftime and scored the go-ahead goal with a great finish. His energy and directness were exactly what Celta were missing. A game-changing substitution.

Williot Swedberg - 8.5: Another incredible sub. Assisted one goal and scored another himself. He was electric from the moment he stepped on the pitch. His pace and trickery tormented the Valencia defence.

Jones El Abdellaoui - 6.5: Came on and provided fresh legs. Did his job without any fuss and helped see out the win.

Borja Iglesias - 6.0: Brought on to be a physical presence but ended up committing a few needless fouls. Didn't offer much in an attacking sense.

Yoel Lago - N/A: A late introduction to waste time and secure the result.

Manager

C. Giráldez González - 8.5: His halftime team talk and substitutions were a stroke of genius. He saw his team was failing and made bold, decisive changes that won the match. Fer López and Williot Swedberg completely changed the game. A masterclass in in-game management.

Valencia Player Ratings vs Celta de Vigo

Let's take a look at Valencia player ratings from the game:

Goalkeeper

Stole Dimitrievski - 6.0: A tough night for the keeper. He conceded three goals, though he wasn't directly at fault for the clinical finishes. He made two saves but looked a bit helpless as his defence crumbled in the second half. A difficult evening to judge him on.

Defenders

Unai Núñez - 6.0: Was solid enough for the hour he was on the pitch. He won all of his tackles and kept it simple. However, the defence looked much shakier after he was substituted. Perhaps his withdrawal was a turning point.

César Tárrega - 5.5: It was a torrid second half for the young defender. He was on the pitch for all three Celta goals and looked out of his depth against their pacy substitutes. He committed three fouls and struggled to cope with the pressure.

José Gayà - 6.5: The captain tried his best to rally his troops. He was defensively sound for most of his time on the pitch, winning his tackles. He didn't offer his usual threat going forward, though. The team lost its shape after he was subbed off.

Eray Cömert - 7.0: Probably Valencia's best defender. He fought hard, winning six of his eight duels and making four clearances. He even ventured forward to test the keeper with a header. A committed performance in a losing cause.

Midfielders

Guido Rodríguez - 8.5: What a warrior. He was simply outstanding for Valencia. He scored both of his team's goals with two excellent finishes. Beyond that, he won a staggering 10 duels in midfield and fought for every ball. It's a shame his heroic performance was for a losing side.

Javi Guerra - 5.5: A very quiet game from the midfielder. He was largely anonymous, losing possession frequently and failing to make any impact. The game seemed to completely pass him by before he was taken off.

André Almeida - 6.5: Looked bright in the first half, with tidy passing and a good shot that was well saved. However, like many of his teammates, he faded badly in the second half. He couldn't get a foothold as Celta's midfield took control.

Luis Rioja - 6.5: He worked tirelessly on the wing, but his final ball was often lacking. He put in eight crosses but only found his man twice. You can't fault his effort, but he needed more quality in the final third.

Forwards

Hugo Duro - 5.5: A really poor outing from the striker. He had only 13 touches in 63 minutes and failed to register a single shot. He was physically dominated by the Celta defenders. A very ineffective performance.

Largie Ramazani - 6.0: He showed flashes of danger but ultimately delivered very little. He lost possession nine times and his shots were wayward. He struggled to get into the game and make a meaningful impact. A disappointing showing.

Substitutes

Umar Sadiq - 7.0: Made a positive impact after coming on. He provided the assist for the second goal and was a physical handful for the Celta defence. He offered more in his short cameo than Duro did all game.

Filip Ugrinic - 6.5: Looked tidy and created a chance with a good cross. A decent contribution from the bench.

Lucas Beltrán - 6.5: Brought some much-needed energy and urgency to Valencia's attack. Had a shot blocked and tried to make things happen.

Arnaut Danjuma - 6.0: Came on late and didn't have enough time to really influence the proceedings.

Manager

C. Corberán Vallet - 5.0: A game of two halves for the manager as well. His team was in complete control at halftime. But he had no answer to Celta's second-half changes. His substitutions failed to have the desired effect, and he watched his team completely capitulate. A bad day at the office.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Ilaix Moriba.

Worst Performer

Pablo Duran had a bad outing.