Aspas leads Celta to 3-1 win over Espanyol in Liga

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Iago Aspas curls in a second goal for Celta Vigo

Denis Suarez's decoy run allows Iago Aspas to tuck home his eighth LaLiga goal of the season for Celta Vigo.

Dec 17, 2021, 10:02 pm

VIGO, Spain -- — Back after missing two matches, Iago Aspas scored and played a part in two more goals to lead Celta Vigo to a 3-1 win over Espanyol in the Spanish league on Friday.

The veteran striker, who missed one game because of suspension and another because of injury, set up attack partner Santi Mina to open the scoring three minutes after kickoff.

Aspas doubled the advantage two minutes after halftime when he curled a shot around two defenders and goalkeeper Diego López before the ball went in off the post. That was Aspas’ eighth goal of the season.

Substitute Denis Suárez added a third score in the 82nd after Aspas started a counterattack before playing the ball wide for Hugo Mallo to assist Suárez.

Loren Moron lobbed in Espanyol’s only goal with an audacious strike from near the midfield line in stoppage time that caught goalie Matías Dituro out of position.

The second home victory this season by Eduardo Coudet’s side at Balaídos Stadium lifted it into 12th place.

Ninth-placed Espanyol, which is very strong at home this season, remained winless in all nine trips from Barcelona.

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