Celta de Vigo – Athletic Club: When the Build-Up Breaks the Press (2-0)

Celta needed a win at Balaídos. After weeks of doubt and disappointment, Giráldez's men finally found the formula to break their home losing streak. Athletic, who arrived with high morale after their recent results, were surprised by an opponent who knew exactly how to strike. The victory not only adds three points but also reaffirms the great campaign that Celta is having. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Sebastián Parreño

The Structural Duel from Kick-Off

From the opening phase, the match presented itself as a confrontation between Celta’s build-up mechanisms and Athletic Club’s pressing structure. Athletic defended out of possession in a 4-4-2, with Simon at goal; Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri at defense; Galarreta, Jauregizar at midfield; Berenguer as the right winger, Sancet as the #10 who became the second striker, Nico Williams on the left and Guruzeta as the pure striker.

In possession, Celta nominally built in a 3-4-3, but the structure quickly morphed into a 3-4-1-2. Radu was at goal; they played with three center backs, Manu Fernández, Starfelt, and Marcos Alonso. Rueda was the right wingback, Mingueza the left wingback. On the middle the double pivot was Román and Sotelo.  Aspas, Jutglà y Swedberg were the attacking trio. The shift here was that Aspas operated as a false 9, while Jutglà and Swedberg were holding wider positions to pin the Athletic full-backs while attacking the half spaces. 

The strategy out of possession for Athletic was based on shifting the 4-4-2 to avoid Celta overloading the first line with their 3 center . . .