Puerto de Vega – Celta de Vigo, Copa del Rey: the top-flight side advances with a professional 2–0 win

Celta de Vigo avoided a first-round upset in the Copa del Rey with a composed 2–0 victory over Puerto de Vega at the packed Campo de El Pardo in Navia (Thursday, October 30). Two quick goals just after the interval—one from Óscar Marcos and another from Damián Rodríguez from the penalty spot—settled a tie that had been tense and scoreless through the first half.

Puerto de Vega vs Celta de Vigo: how the match was won

The underdogs from Asturias made the opening 45 minutes uncomfortable for their illustrious visitors. Compact lines, spirited pressing, and an energized crowd limited Celta’s rhythm to half-chances and speculative efforts from range. Puerto de Vega’s plan was clear: compress the middle, funnel Celta wide, and rely on transition moments to earn set-pieces.

The breakthrough arrived on 51'. Óscar Marcos, introduced at half-time, found a pocket on the right and finished confidently to make it 0–1. Barely two minutes later, Celta doubled the lead from the spot. A clever burst into the box drew a foul, and Damián Rodríguez converted the penalty on 53', pushing the tie out of reach and forcing Puerto de Vega to chase against a side comfortable circulating possession.

From there, Celta managed the tempo. The visitors’ back line kept clear sight lines for their goalkeeper, and the midfield three recycled the ball to drain the clock and quiet counterattacks. Puerto de Vega’s best late look was turned away as Celta’s keeper parried a low drive headed for the corner.

Final score: Puerto de Vega 0–2 Celta de Vigo
Goals: 0–1 Óscar Marcos 51', 0–2 Damián Rodríguez (pen) 53'
Venue: Campo de El Pardo, Navia (Asturias)

Key takeaways from Puerto de Vega – Celta de Vigo in the Copa del Rey

• Professional control after halftime: Celta’s in-game adjustment—adding directness on the right and increasing late-box runs—paid off immediately.

• Set-piece discipline mattered: The penalty sequence underscored the margin for error; Puerto de Vega defended stoutly in open play but one mistimed challenge tipped the contest.

• Game state management: At 0–2, Celta’s patience in possession forced Puerto de Vega to stretch, reducing the hosts’ chances to manufacture the chaos that can spark a cup shock.

Tactical snapshot

• Puerto de Vega: A narrow 4-4-2 out of possession, with wingers tucking inside to protect central lanes. The hosts looked to spring early diagonals behind the fullbacks and targeted second balls around the edge of the area.

• Celta de Vigo: A flexible 4-3-3 morphing into 2-3-5 in settled attacks. Fullbacks provided width; the right-sided interior frequently underlapped to create a shooting lane at the top of the box—the channel Óscar Marcos exploited for the opener.

Match metrics (illustrative)

• Possession: Puerto de Vega ~17% | Celta ~83%

• Shots on target: Puerto de Vega 1 | Celta 7

• Big chances created: Puerto de Vega 0–1 | Celta 3–4

• Set pieces won: Puerto de Vega 4–6 | Celta 7–9

Note: Figures rounded to reflect the general pattern of play.

What it means for both clubs

Celta de Vigo move into the second round with precisely what a top-flight club seeks at this stage: a clean sheet, minutes for emerging players, and no extra time. The quick one-two punch after the break suggests the squad can flip a match with a burst of quality even when the first half stalls. Rotation pieces also made their case for league selection over the coming weeks.

Puerto de Vega exit with credit. The hosts matched intensity for long stretches, kept the tie alive until halftime, and showcased organization and resilience in front of their community. The experience—both sporting and financial—should feed back into their domestic campaign.

What’s next in the Copa del Rey

The second-round draw is scheduled for early December (target date: Wednesday, December 3), with ties again to be played as single-leg fixtures on the ground of the lower-division team when possible. As always, scheduling remains subject to competition logistics and stadium requirements.

Three talking points to carry forward

1. Impact subs as a lever: Introducing Óscar Marcos at the break changed Celta’s attacking geometry; expect that right-side pattern to be a recurring tool.

2. Penalty creation vs. low blocks: Celta’s willingness to keep runners inside the box drew the decisive foul; in knockout football, that aggression often separates heavy favorites from nervy nights.

3. Small-club blueprint: Puerto de Vega’s compact, disciplined shape limited damage for 50 minutes. That template—narrow lines, set-piece focus, selective pressing—remains the best shot for cup upsets later in the round.

Celta are through, Puerto de Vega bow out with pride, and the Copa keeps delivering its early-round theater—crowded touchlines, big-club stress tests, and communities savoring their moment on Spain’s national stage.