The match between the Celta de Vigo and the UD Las Palmas, which took place on March 31, 2025 at the Abanca-Balaídos Stadium, ended on a 1-1 tie during the 29th day of LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25. With this result, the Celta stayed in the 9th position with 39 points, five of the European positions, while Las Palmas occupied the 19th square with 24 points, still in a zone of descent, but only two points of salvation. The meeting, which began at 19:00 UTC, was led by arbitrator Juan Martínez Munuera, and the VAR generated some controversy by annuling a goal to Las Palmas.
Technical and Tactical Analysis
Vigo Celt (3-4-3)
The Celta, led by Claudio Giráldez, maintained its usual 3-4-3 training, designed to dominate possession and press high. However, the absence of Óscar Mingueza per suspension forced adjustments to the defense, with Damián Rodríguez occupying the left lane.
- Alignment: Guaita (GK); Javi Rodríguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Carreira, Beltrán, Sotelo, Damián Rodríguez; Aspas, Borja Iglesias, Alfon González.
- Substitutions: Hugo Álvarez by Damián Rodríguez (min. 65), Ilaix Moriba by Sotelo (min. 75), Pablo Durán by Borja Iglesias (min. 80).
- Practice: The Celta tried to take control of the ball, achieving 58% possession, and sought to create opportunities for the bands, especially through Carreira and Alfon González. However, their lack of precision in the last third was quite noticeable, as they only achieved 4 out of 12 shots at the door. High pressure worked in key moments, but the defense showed weaknesses in the rapid transitions, something that became clear with the goal of Las Palmas. Hugo Álvarez’s entry brought more dynamism to the attack, but it was not enough to break the tie.
UD Las Palmas (4-4-2)
Las Palmas, under the direction of Diego Martínez, opted for a more conservative 4-4-2, prioritizing defensive solidarity and rapid transitions. The absence of Kirian Rodríguez due to illness and the doubts of Andy Pelmard and Benito Ramírez forced adjustments, with Essugo returning to midfield after his suspension.
- Alignment: Cillessen (GK); Álex Suárez, Herzog, McKenna, Álex Muñoz; Sandro Ramírez, Essugo, Campaña, Moleiro; Fabio Silva, Januzaj.
- Substitutions: Viti Rozada by Álex Muñoz (min. 70), Javi Muñoz por Essugo (min. 78), Oli McBurnie by Fabio Silva (min. 85).
- Practice: Las Palmas was organized in a medium-low block, giving the possession of the ball (42%) but trying to get out quickly to the contragolpe thanks to the speed of Moleiro and Sandro Ramírez. His goal came after a well-made play, demonstrating his ability to take advantage of the spaces. However, the lack of depth in their attack (only 3 shots at 8 attempts) and the fatigue they felt in the second half limited their chances of winning. McBurnie’s entry sought to give them more presence in the area, but it did not make a significant impact.
MVP of the Party
Alberto Moleiro (UD Las Palmas) was the most outstanding player of the meeting. The young midpoint canary marked the goal of the tie in the 48th minute, after a large collective move, and led his team to create opportunities (3 key passes). In addition, it completed 2 tried 3 regates and won 5 out of 8 duels, showing its technical quality and ability to unbalance. His performance was key to Las Palmas sucking a point in a complicated field.
goals and assistance
- Vigo Celt 1-0 (min. 45+2): Alfon González marked the first goal of the party just before the break. So much came after a precise center of Iago Aspas from the right, that Gonzalez shook head on the second stick, surpassing Cillessen.
- Gol: Alfon González
- Assistance: Iago Aspas
- UD Las Palmas 1-1 (min. 48): Alberto Moleiro matched the marker at the beginning of the second half. The move began with a long pass of Cillessen, which Sandro Ramírez went down for Campaign; the latter leaked a ball to Moleiro, who defined with a crossfire from the edge of the area.
- Gol: Alberto Moleiro
- Assistance: José Campaña
Scores of Players
Based on performance data and general comments:
Celta de Vigo:
- Guaita (6.5): He could not do much in the goal, but made a key stop at a shot of Sandro Ramírez.
- Javi Rodríguez (6.8): Solid in defense, with 3 interceptions, but suffered with the speed of Moleiro.
- Starfelt (6.7): He won 4 out of 6 aerial duels, but he had trouble getting out of the ball.
- Alonso (6.9): Insurance in long balls, completed 90% of their passes.
- Carreira (7.0): Active by the right band, with 2 precise centers.
- Beltrán (6.8): Correct in distribution (88% accuracy), but lacked aggressiveness.
- Sotelo (6.5): He tried to connect with the fronts, but lost 5 balls.
- Damián Rodríguez (6.3): Overwhelmed in the left lane, it was replaced in the second half.
- Aspas (7.5): Assistance for the Gonzalez goal was brilliant; it generated 2 occasions.
- Borja Iglesias (6.4): Una participative, with only 1 shot deviated.
- Alfon González (7.8): He marked the goal and was the most dangerous of the Celta, with 3 shots.
- Substitutes: Hugo Alvarez (6.7), Ilaix Moriba (6.5), Pablo Durán (6.3).
UD Las Palmas:
- Cillessen (6.8): He did not blame on the goal and made 2 important stops before he was injured.
- Álex Suárez (6.9): Solid in defense, with 4 detachments.
- Herzog (7.0): He won 5 out of 7 duels, key in the air game.
- McKenna (6.8): Right, but lost the mark on Gonzalez’s goal.
- Álex Muñoz (6.5): He suffered with Carreira, replaced by discomfort.
- Sandro Ramírez (7.2): Active in the attack, with 2 shots and a key pass.
- Essugo (6.7): It provided a balance in the middle, but it collapsed.
- Campaign (7.4): He gave assistance to Moleiro and led the balloon exit (92% precision).
- Moleiro (8.2): MVP of the match, with goal and 3 key passes.
- Fabio Silva (6.6): He had an errant goal of the VAR; he fought, but without luck.
- Januzaj (6.4): Little influential, he lost 6 balls.
- Substitutes: Viti Rozada (6.6), Javi Muñoz (6.5), Oli McBurnie (6.2).
Polemics: Arbitrary and VAR Errors
The match was marked by a controversial VAR decision that directly impacted the result. In the 62nd minute, Fabio Silva scored a goal that would have put Las Palmas 2-1 to the front. The move started with a Moleiro pass, and Silva defined with a low shot after winning Starfelt’s position. However, arbitrator Juan Martínez Munuera, after reviewing the move in the VAR, annulled the goal for an alleged out-of-play by Silva. According to later analyses on social networks and specialized media, such as the post of @ArchivoVAR in X, the out-of-play was a serious mistake, as Silva was in legal position at least half-body. This error cost Las Palmas a victory that could have been crucial in his struggle for salvation, which generated outrage between the fans and the technical body of the Canarian team.
Porter’s injury
Jasper Cillessen, goalkeeper at UD Las Palmas, suffered an injury at minute 88 after a crash with Pablo Durán when he tried to catch an air balloon. Cillessen fell ill and the ankle was twisted, which forced him to be replaced by the alternate doorman, Dinko Horkas. According to subsequent statements, Cillessen could be several weeks off, which represents a hard blow to Las Palmas at a critical time of the season.
Statements by Players and Trainers
- Claudio Giráldez (Celta de Vigo): “We have mastered the game, but we have lacked precision in the last meters. The tie knows little because we had chances to win. Cillessen’s injury is a pity, we want a quick recovery.” Giráldez avoided talking about VAR, but was frustrated by the lack of definition of his team.
- Diego Martínez (UD Las Palmas): “I am very proud of my players, we have competed against you against a great team. The annulled goal is a mistake that costs us two vital points. I don’t understand how the VAR can fail in such a clear move. This can’t go on.” Martinez also confirmed Cillessen’s injury, noting that “it’s a hard blow for us.”
- Iago Aspas (Celta de Vigo): “We’ve had control, but we’ve missed the last pass. The tie isn’t what we wanted, but we’re still fighting for Europe.”
- Alberto Moleiro (UD Las Palmas): “The goal gives me confidence, but the tie leaves us a bitter taste for the annulled goal. It was legal, we all saw it. We’re fighting to get out of here and these decisions hurt a lot.”
Porta de los Diarios Deportivos
- Brand (Spain): “VAR of nightmare in Balaídos: Las Palmas, stolen in an unjust tie (1-1)”. The cover highlights the polemic of the annulled goal to Fabio Silva, with a photo of Martínez Munuera reviewing the VAR monitor.
- AS (Spain): “Celta and Las Palmas share points in a controversial match.” The newspaper includes an image of Moleiro celebrating its goal and criticizes the performance of the VAR.
- World of Sports (Spain): “The Celta stumbles at home and the VAR punishes Las Palmas (1-1)”. It focuses on the frustration of Celta for not winning and the injustice suffered by Las Palmas.
- La Provincia (Islas Canarias): “Scan it in Vigo! Las Palmas, victim of the VAR in a tie that knows little.” The cover shows Fabio Silva protesting after the cancellation of his goal.
- L’Équipe (France): “Match nul controversé entre Celta et Las Palmas (1-1)”. The French newspaper briefly mentions the party, highlighting the VAR error as a recurring theme in LaLiga.
- The Guardian (United Kingdom): He did not dedicate a cover to the party, but in his international football section he published a brief summary: “Las Palmas denied victory by controversial VAR call in 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo”.
Extended Analysis
The 1-1 tie reflects how both teams have been working this season. The Celta de Vigo showed his ability to control possession and create opportunities, but his lack of aiming in the attack cost them two important points in his search for European posts. Iago Aspas is still the engine of the team, but Borja Iglesias’ sparse (just a shot in 80 minutes) is a matter of concern for Giráldez. Practically, the Celta was superior in the first half, but its intensity decreased after the break, which allowed Las Palmas to equal the marker.
On the other hand, Las Palmas showed that he can compete with teams from the top, especially thanks to his ability to take advantage of fast transitions. Moleiro and Sandro Ramírez were the most prominent in attack, while the defensive solidity of Herzog and McKenna helped the team to stay in the match. However, the lack of depth in the bench and injury of Cillessen are problems that could affect them in the next days.
The controversy around the VAR was the most candent theme of the party. Fabio Silva’s goal not only cost Las Palmas a vital victory, but also revived the debate on the reliability of the video feature in LaLiga. This error, along with other recent arbitral decisions, is putting pressure on the RFEF to improve the implementation of the VAR, especially in play as evident as this one.
As for the repercussions, the tie keeps the Celta in the struggle for Europe, but his lack of consistency at home (only 2 victories in the last 5 games in Balaídos) could complicate his aspirations. For Las Palmas, the point is valuable, but the sense of injustice and Cillessen’s injury could affect the team’s mood in its struggle for permanence. The next day will be crucial for both: the Celta will face Espanyol, while Las Palmas will receive Majorca in a direct duel for salvation.
Conclusion
The match between the Celta de Vigo and UD Las Palmas ended on a 1-1 tie, and was a fairly balanced meeting. The individual quality of players like Moleiro and Aspas shone, but there was also an arbitral error that altered the course of the game. Practically, the Celta showed a domain, although Las Palmas was able to capitalize on their opportunities. The injury of Cillessen and the VAR controversy left a bad taste of mouth, especially for visitors, who felt they deserved more. This tie reveals both the strengths and weaknesses of both teams in a season in which the Celta aspires to Europe and Las Palmas struggles to avoid descent.
