Teams often experience a new manager bounce when a change is made but none more so than Celta Vigo.
Despite Atletico Madrid sitting pretty at the top of La Liga, no team has won more points, scored more goals or conceded fewer since appointing Eduardo Coudet.
They have scored 13 goals in five La Liga games, the best start in terms of goals scored at this stage under any manager for the club in the top-flight in the last 69 years.
This run has seen them collect 12 points with three clean sheets helping them rise from relegation-threatened 17th to European-chasing 9th.
The board at Celta decided they had a decision to make in November as before Coudet’s appointment, relegation looked a distinct possibility with Célticos having earned just seven points from ten games.
A poor start to the season came off the back of surviving relegation by a single point ahead of Leganes in 2019, winning just two away games all season.
Previous incumbent Oscar Garcia was in charge for just over a year, winning just eight of his 38 games in charge and none of his last six.
They have not cured their travel blues having won only once on the road this campaign, but are at least proving a more competitive and free flowing side having scored just six goals before Coudet took over.
Looking for their sixth manager in three years, the Argentine was seen as the best appointment having guided Racing Club to the Argentine league title in 2019 – only their third since 1966 – and left Internacional in Brazil having won 23 of his 43 matches.
Playing an exciting brand of attacking football in a lesser-spotted 4-1-3-2 formation with 21-year-old Fran Beltrán, one-time Arsenal loanee Denis Suarez and former Manchester City player Nolito the supporting cast to Iago Aspas and Brais Mendez, scorer of both goals against Alaves.
In this formation a lot of pressure is placed on the sole defensive midfielder, but Renato Tapia has proven an excellent signing after joining on a free transfer in the summer from Feyenoord.
The Peruvian has moved overseas for the first time in his career but has shone since the start with 469 successful passes, 92 recoveries and having won 99 duels.
Arguably their most impressive performance came against Cadiz. They dismantled the newly-promoted side in a whirlwind opening period, going into the break four goals to the good after having just four shots – the first side in La Liga to achieve this since 2003/4.
After an impressive 3-1 win at Granada, three successive wins without conceding against Athletic Bilbao, Cadiz and Alaves saw Celta win four consecutive league matches for the first time since 2014.
This followed an auspicious start as the 46-year-old was not allowed to take his place on the bench for the match at Sevilla as he had not yet received his five years of training required by UEFA to manage in Spain.
His new players put up a good fight, only losing in the dying stages as the hosts grabbed two late goals.
This form has been vital for the hierarchy at Celta with the prospect of relegation proving potentially difficult financially after the Covid-19 pandemic. Last month the club announced a loss of €12m, their worst financial year since 2009 when they declared bankruptcy the year before, and would have meant the sale of star players over the next couple of transfer windows as they look to raise funds but their promising form may convince them to hold off until the summer.
One key player during this run has been captain and talismanic striker Aspas, who has been involved in nine goals in his last seven league games – scoring four and assisting five.
Chiefly remembered at Liverpool for a woeful corner which led to Chelsea countering and former Reds favourite Fernando Torres setting up the goal to put one of the final nails into Liverpool’s title bid as Steven Gerrard let it slip, Aspas has since moved back to Celta Vigo and is adored for his goal scoring exploits.
Looking at the stats tell you all you need to know about Aspas’ status with the Celestes, having made the fourth most appearances for the club (346) and scoring the most goals (152).
Coming through the youth ranks at the club, the striker found his home at the Balaídos before moves away to Liverpool and Sevilla not proving fruitful with just 30 matches over three disappointing seasons.
He has regularly found the back of the net, only failing to score 20 goals in a La Liga season on four occasions with his best season coming in 2011/12 when he bagged 23 goals.
At 33-years-old the frontman is still competing with his more well-known peers, becoming the first player in La Liga this season to register 10 goal involvements with seven goals and three assists.
The prolific striker will hope to lead his boyhood side into Europe for the first time since 2016/17 when they reached the Europa League semi-finals. Celta Vigo’s progress will be an exciting watch at Balaídos.
Notable Results
Barcelona 2-2 Valencia – Lionel Messi scores 644th goal for Barca, eclipsing Pele’s club record for the most goal for a single club but hosts lose further ground on leaders.
Eibar 1-3 Real Madrid – Reigning champions earn fourth straight win to move level with rivals Atletico at the top.
Levante 2-1 Real Sociedad – de Frutos grabs late winner to lift hosts out of bottom three and make it six without a win for Sociedad.
Sevilla 1-1 Real Valladolid – Relegation-threatened Real Valladolid score vital late equaliser against seventh-placed Sevilla.
Atletico 3-1 Elche – Suarez double and Costa penalty sends Atleti top on goal difference.
