THESSALONIKI, GREECE — Iago Aspas delivered a captain's performance as Celta Vigo fought back from a halftime deficit to claim a 2-1 victory over PAOK Salonika at Toumba Stadium. The veteran forward assisted one goal and scored another as the Spanish side's clinical edge proved decisive in a match where PAOK dominated possession but lacked the cutting edge to capitalize on their territorial advantage.
The opening exchanges belonged to Celta, with Aspas at the heart of their early pressure. In the 13th minute, the captain nearly broke the deadlock when he met Óscar Mingueza's delivery with a header from the right side of the six-yard box, only to be denied by Antonis Tsiftsis. Moments later, Williot Swedberg pounced on the rebound, but the PAOK goalkeeper was equal to the task again, saving from very close range to keep the scores level.
Celta's persistence paid dividends in the 34th minute when Aspas finally found the breakthrough. Miguel Román threaded a perfectly weighted through ball into the captain's path, and Aspas made no mistake, slotting his left-footed effort past Tsiftsis from the center of the box to give the visitors a deserved lead. The goal capped a dominant spell for Celta, who had put eight of their nine shots on target by the final whistle, showcasing their ruthless efficiency in front of goal.
PAOK emerged from the interval with renewed purpose, and their pressure nearly yielded an equalizer in the 63rd minute. Greg Taylor whipped in a dangerous cross that found Alexander Jeremejeff, whose header from point-blank range forced a spectacular save from Ionut Radu. The Swedish striker would not be denied for long, however, as he latched onto Andrija Zivkovic's incisive through ball in the 77th minute and fired a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner to level the contest.
The home crowd had barely finished celebrating when Celta struck back with devastating speed. Just nine minutes after Jeremejeff's equalizer, Aspas turned provider once more, setting up Swedberg to curl a left-footed effort past Tsiftsis from the center of the box. The 43rd-minute goal restored Celta's advantage and ultimately proved to be the winner, despite PAOK's frantic late efforts to salvage a point.
The statistics painted a picture of contrasting styles. PAOK enjoyed 57.4% possession and controlled large swathes of the match, but Celta's clinical finishing made the difference. The visitors registered nine shots with an remarkable 89% accuracy rate, putting eight on target compared to PAOK's two from five attempts. Tsiftsis was heroic between the posts for the Greek side, making six saves to keep his team in contention, but even his best efforts couldn't prevent Celta's sharpshooters from finding the net twice.
The match grew increasingly tense in the closing stages, with both sides receiving yellow cards. Hugo Álvarez was cautioned for Celta in the 67th minute after a foul on Magomed Ozdoev, while Andrija Zivkovic saw yellow for PAOK in the 90th minute. Javi Rueda also picked up a booking for the visitors in the 72nd minute as tempers flared in the crucial Europa League encounter.
PAOK manager made three substitutions in the 67th minute in an attempt to change the game's momentum, introducing Giannis Michailidis, Dimitrios Chatsidis, and Abdul Baba. Celta responded with their own changes, bringing on Fer López and Hugo Álvarez for Iago Aspas and Swedberg in the 66th minute, before introducing Matías Vecino late on to help see out the victory.
The final minutes saw PAOK throw everything forward in search of an equalizer. Andrija Zivkovic came agonizingly close in stoppage time when his left-footed effort from outside the box sailed just wide of the post. Miguel Román also tested Tsiftsis with a long-range strike in the 85th minute that the goalkeeper pushed over the bar, while Fer López's attempt from distance was saved in the 83rd minute as Celta defended their slender advantage with determination.
The result carries significant implications for both clubs' European ambitions. Celta's victory moves them to 10th place in the Europa League standings with 9 points from five matches, keeping their qualification hopes alive. PAOK, meanwhile, remain in 17th position with 8 points, needing positive results in their remaining fixtures to advance to the knockout stages.
The tactical battle showcased two distinct philosophies. PAOK's possession-based approach saw them dominate the ball but struggle to create clear-cut chances against Celta's organized defensive structure. The Spanish side, content to cede territory, demonstrated the value of clinical finishing and counter-attacking prowess, with Aspas pulling the strings in the final third throughout.
Dejan Lovren and Alessandro Vogliacco worked tirelessly at the heart of PAOK's defense but found themselves constantly stretched by Celta's quick transitions. Borja Iglesias led the line effectively for the visitors, occupying defenders and creating space for Aspas and Swedberg to exploit. The midfield battle was evenly contested, with Mady Camara and Magomed Ozdoev competing fiercely against Ilaix Moriba and Miguel Román in the engine room.
The atmosphere at Toumba Stadium reflected the high stakes, with the home supporters creating a cauldron of noise in an attempt to inspire their team. Despite their vocal backing, PAOK couldn't find the breakthrough their possession warranted, leaving the traveling Celta fans to celebrate a vital away victory in Greece.
Celta will look to build on this momentum when they travel to face Mallorca on February 22, while PAOK must regroup quickly before their trip to Larissa FC on February 21.