This was an intriguing battle between two out-of-form European qualification contenders that still occupied pre-match positions of sixth and seventh in the table despite their recent struggles.
Both sides were politely knocking on the door rather than hammering it down in the opening exchanges, as Edu Exposito’s speculative volley was parried to safety by Ionut Radu, while Javi Rodriguez had Celta’s best early opening when his side-footed strike went a whisker wide of the post.
The visitors were looking more likely to strike first as the half wore on, and Ferran Jutgla went close to breaking the deadlock when his deft header from Marcos Alonso’s cross sailed just wide of the far post.
Jutgla managed to get on the scoresheet before the break, though, after he clinically swept the ball home at the far post from Javi Rueda’s cut-back.
It could have been two before half-time, with Alonso very close to finding the net with an innocuous-looking effort from Miguel Roman’s set piece.
Manolo Gonzalez would have hoped for a reaction from his side after the break, but if anything, it was Celta who came out with renewed intensity.
The hosts were indebted to Marko Dmitrovic for keeping the deficit at one after making a fine one-handed save to keep out Sergio Carreira’s rising effort.
However, Espanyol rallied themselves and restored parity thanks to Kike Garcia’s brilliant left-footed strike to awaken the previously subdued atmosphere inside the ground.
Borja Iglesias thought he had restored the visitors’ advantage in the 77th minute with a scrappy finish from deep inside the box, but the goal was eventually ruled out after a controversial VAR call to keep the scoreline on level terms.
That decision would prove even more costly for the visitors, as Gonzalez’s men struck next to all but snatch a win. Ramon Terrats teed up Tyrhys Dolan to dispatch a superb first-time finish past Radu to complete the turnaround.
It looked like the Periquitos had stolen a morale-boosting and barely deserved three points, but Iglesias was not to be denied a goal after striking in the 93rd minute from point-blank range after Pablo Duran backheeled the ball into his path.
The second half of football was a wonderful advert for LaLiga, in a result which keeps both sides in their aforementioned pre-match positions of sixth and seventh respectively.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Sergio Carreira (Celta Vigo)
