Celta Vigo travelled to Real Zaragoza on Monday looking for the three points that would have moved them away from the relegation zone.
An uneventful first period failed to provide a single attempt on target for either side, but the opportunities started to arrive early in the second half.
The match appeared to be heading for a goalless draw, but Iago Aspas finished from close range late on as Celta secured all the points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Evening all! Week 13 in La Liga is completed as Zaragoza welcome a struggling Celta outfit to the Estadio de La Romareda. The home side have won three of their last five games in all competitions, but Celta have suffered three defeats in the same period.
Teams:
Zaragoza: Roberto; Alvaro, Loovens, Sapunaru, Minero; Movilla, Oriol, Apono, Montanes; Postiga, Rodriguez
Celta: Varas; Mallo, Lago, Arceo, Carbal; Oubina, Lopez, Fernandez; Bermejo, Aspas, Krohn-Dehli
In terms of the recent meetings between the two sides, both have won two of their last five with the other ending in a draw. The pair have not met in La Liga since 2007, however, when Zaragoza came out on top with a 2-0 win.
It has been a bit of a mixed bag for the home side thus far this season. They won just one of their opening four matches in the league, but did pick up three straight wins in all competitions in late October. Their two recent losses have come against Real Madrid and Barcelona, but they did record a thumping win over Deportivo La Coruna on November 10.
Celta, meanwhile, picked up three wins from their opening seven matches in the league. But they have now gone six games without a victory in all competitions. That run of form has left them just two points off the bottom of the table.
Helder Postiga returns to the Zaragoza team this evening after being dropped against Barcelona last time out. It was a strange decision based on his four goals in his last four matches. But I am backing him to be among the scoring in a 2-1 win for the home side.
You just get the feeling that this is the type of match that both sides need to win in order to reach their goals. Zaragoza will hope for a top-half finish this season, while another season in La Liga will be success for the away side.
Right, we are little over five minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in Spain. Let's hope for goals as another week of pulsating La Liga action draws to a close.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. A reminder that victory for the home side could move them into the top half of the table. Meanwhile, Celta would move away from the relegation zone with three points.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Let's get this Spanish night of football underway. Not a full house inside the ground, but there is a good atmosphere.
Here we go then. A couple of minutes later than expected Celta Vigo get us underway. You just get the feeling that the first goal in this match could prove to be decisive. If there indeed is one.
Early half-chance from the away side as Bermejo strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was straight at Roberto and the goalkeeper collects. That will do their confidence the world of good.
It has been a really bright start from Celta as they probe down the wings with Alex Lopez and Oubina both involved. However, Zaragoza have dealt with the threat thus far.
The referee has not made himself too popular with the home supporters in the early stages with a couple of dodgy free kick decisions. But Zaragoza have just started to put a period of possession together.
Half-chance for the home side as Apono combines with Montanes, but the latter just cannot collect inside the area and Javi Varas is on hand to clear the danger. Both sides look capable of scoring after eight bright minutes.
Again it's smart work from Montanes as he drives at the Celta defence before winning a corner. However, Hugo Mallo raises highest in the box to clear the danger. It's all a bit nicey nice at the moment with both sides allowing the other to play.
Postiga has the ball in the back of the net for the home side as he collects a pass from Apono before chipping over Varas. However, the offside flag was raised. Zaragoza do now look the side more likely to open the scoring.
Another half-chance for Zaragoza as Montanes fires a high cross into the penalty area, but Victor just cannot make contact and the ball drifts out for a free kick. We are still waiting for the first real chance of the evening.
Half-chance for Celta as Bermejo whips a cross into the penalty area, but Alvaro just beats Iago Aspas to the ball and the danger is cleared. It must be said that there are a lot of empty seats in the ground this evening.
Best spell of the match for Celta as Roberto Lago combines with Oubina before striking at goal, but Minero makes the block. The away side also force a corner, but the danger is cleared.
End-to-end football at the moment as Aspas comes close for Celta before Apono wins a corner down the other end. However, the set piece is poor and the danger is cleared. Neither side has found the elusive final pass thus far.
Couple of penalty appeals for the home side as Glenn Loovens and Helder Postiga are tugged to the ground in quick succession, but the referee shakes his head and play is continued. We are still waiting for a real spark in this match.
Both sides continue to exchange spells of possession in midfield. But neither goalkeeper has really had a save of note to make. The match is crying out for a goal in order to lift the tempo.
Postiga reveals his frustration as he is dispossessed once more. The striker has not had a great deal of support in this match thus far. Meanwhile, both sides are struggling to keep hold of the ball.
Sociedad threaten with a series of high balls into the penalty area in quick succession, but once more Lago is on hand to clear the danger. Meanwhile, Celta launch a counter of their own, but to no avail.
The tempo of the match has just been interrupted in the past few moments with a host of fouls from both sides. It is just incredibly bitty with chances at a premium as we surpass the 30-minute mark.
The home side's frustrations continue as Postiga is felled outside the penalty area, but the referee is not interested and waves play on. Cristian Sapunaru picks up a yellow for his complaints. It is that sort of match at the moment.
Celta have been extremely poor away from home this season. But they appear to be set up perfectly for the counter with two banks of four and Aspas and Krohn-Dehli in advanced areas. They do look the more balanced side.
Controversy here as Cabral appears to elbow Montanes in a wide position, but the referee awards a yellow card instead of a red. The Zaragoza midfielder demonstrated his electric pace for the first time this half. However, Victor's free kick is collected by Varas.
Zaragoza are certainly controlling the possession as we approach the interval. But a host of fouls continue to break up the flow of the match. It is becoming bad tempered and threatening to boil over.
Again Zaragoza threaten with a series of corners in quick succession. It eventually falls to Oriol outside the box, but the midfielder can only fire his effort wide from outside the box.
A rare Celta attack almost brings the opening goal as Aspas searches out the run of Krohn-Dehli, but Minero just steps across the Danish striker to clear the danger. It has been a 'nearly' half thus far.
Little over one minute of the half remaining and the score remains 0-0. Half-chance for the home side as Apono strikes a free kick from outside the box, but it is wide of the target and Varas restarts with a goal kick.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute at the end of the half.
So there we have it. An uneventful half of football is brought to an end with the two sides level at 0-0. In truth it has been a match of few chances.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Zaragoza have shaded the possession with 56%, but they have managed just one shot to Celta's two.
The fact that neither side has registered a single shot on target tells you everything that you need to know about the opening period. Both teams have been cute and tidy on the ball, but neither has been able to find that elusive final pass.
Just a reminder that three points for the home side would move them into the top half of the table. Meanwhile, victory for Celta would move them away from the relegation zone. But at the moment it appears that we are heading for a bore draw.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of the second period. Let's hope that the tempo is raised and we see some attempts on target at least!
Zaragoza kick us off in the second period. No changes for either side at the interval. Postiga had a quiet word with the referee before the second half. Probably along the lines of "Can I have a free kick?"
CHANCE! Best opportunity of the match for the home side as Victor strikes a powerful effort from outside the box, but Varas makes the block. Meanwhile, Postiga is also denied moments later.
CHANCE! Suddenly the opportunities are coming for both sides as Aspas pounces on a loose ball inside the penalty area, but he fires over the crossbar. Much better tempo to the second period.
Montanes has just started to influence the match as he embarks on a series of attacking runs, but desperate defending from the away side clears the danger. The tempo has been raised and the supporters have responded.
Montanes continues to cause Celta problems as he picks up possession outside the box before striking an effort towards the top corner, but it just moved wide of the post. Meanwhile, Postiga is felled in the penalty area once more.
The home side are well in control of the match at the moment with Postiga and Montanes linking in attack. However, the Celta defence is ever so deep and there is just no space in behind.
Another half-chances comes the way of Zaragoza as Victor strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was just high of the crossbar. Meanwhile, Celta remain a threat on the counter.
The pressure remains from the home side as Apono and Montanes combine in the penalty area, but the danger is cleared for a corner. Meanwhile, it appears that Celta are preparing to make their first change of the evening.
Celta are really struggling at the moment as Socieded continue to pass and probe in their half. Meanwhile, first change for the home side as Oriol is replaced by Javi Alamo.
Just as I say Celta are struggling they enjoy a period of possession in the Sociedad half. However, the chances have just dried up once more. The match is crying out for some inspiration.
It's better from Celta as they force a corner, but Krohn-Dehli's cross is poor and the danger is cleared. Neither side has really showed their best form as of yet. But there is still more than 20 minutes remaining.
The tempo from the early stages of the second period has been completely lost as Sociedad keep the ball in their own half. Celta are a threat on the counter, but it breaks down on each occasion outside the box.
Little over 20 minutes remaining and the scores remain level. Celta have the option of Chu-young Park on their bench. Meanwhile, Romaric would be the obvious chance for the home side.
CHANCE! Clear opportunity for the away side as Aspas strikes a low effort inside the box, but Roberto makes a diving save to his right. That should give them confidence in the final stages of this match.
The unpredictable Carlos Aranda forces a corner for the home side, but Victor's cross is headed over the crossbar by Postiga. Truth be told this has not been a great 74 minutes of football.
Sociedad have just upped the tempo once more in the past few moments, but Aranda's cross is again straight into the arms of Varas. The home side are forcing the issue with little under 15 minutes remaining.
You just get the feeling that both of these sides would settle for a point at the end of this match. That attitude is not inspiring the home crowd as they make their frustrations known.
Half-chance for the away side as Aspas drives into the penalty area, but Loovens comes across to make the clearance. There are just signs that Celta will have a go at this in the remaining 10 minutes.
Celta do indeed continue to force the issue with a host of crosses into the penalty area, but Roberto collects possession on each occasion.
GOAL! Real Zaragoza 0-1 Celta Vigo (Aspas)
Celta's pressure does indeed pay off as Aspas pounces in the penalty area to find the back of the net from close range.
Meanwhile, Celta make a chance as Alex Lopez is replaced by Park. You just had a feeling that Celta could steal something here. But there is still more than five minutes of football to play.
CHANCE! Aranda bursts into life outside of the penalty area, but his explosive effort is tipped over by Varas. Can Celta hold on their first away win of the season?
It is all one-way traffic at the moment with Sociedad putting cross after cross into the Celta penalty area. However, their defence has been impressive this evening and the danger is cleared. Little over two minutes of normal time remaining.
Change for the home side as Montanes is replaced by Javi Alamo. Sociedad have possession in the Celta half, but there remains no real threat.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes of football. It is now or never for the home side.
The pressure remains from the home side, but everything is long and into the box and Celta continue to clear the danger. Little over 30 seconds remaining. What a result this would be for the away side.
Change for Celta as Aspas is replaced by Cristian Bustos. There are seconds remaining.
Real Zaragoza 0-1 Celta Vigo
So there we have it. A late strike from Aspas was enough to secure all the points for Celta. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us for Premier League football tomorrow. Until then!
