Rayo Vallecano fightback against Celta Vigo

Rayo Vallecano came from behind to beat 10-man Celta Vigo 3-2 on Saturday for their second straight win in the Spanish league.

Celta striker Iago Aspas had given the visitors a 2-0 lead with goals in the 12th and 34th minutes.

But the match took a dramatic swing in Rayo’s favour when Celta defender Gustavo Cabral received his second yellow card six minutes from halftime.

Forward Leo Carrilho pulled one back for Rayo with a header in the 59th before Roberto ‘Tito’ Triguero was left unmarked to level with his 72nd-minute header.

Francisco ‘Piti’ Medina completed the comeback with a spot kick in the 82nd after Celta’s Andres Tunez pulled down Andrija Delibasic in the area.

“The fact that Celta was left with 10 (men) before half time gave us a certain advantage, but even so it’s not easy to score against Celta and even less so when they are winning by two goals” Rayo coach Paco Jemez

“The fact that Celta was left with 10 (men) before half time gave us a certain advantage, but even so it’s not easy to score against Celta and even less so when they are winning by two goals,” said Rayo coach Paco Jemez, whose team moved into the top half of the standings.

Promoted Celta remained without a point from six away games this season. 

Last-placed Osasuna earned a much-needed second victory by winning 3-0 at Espanyol thanks to Alvaro Cejudo’s goal and assist.

Cejudo scored off a deflected shot by teammate Sisinio ‘Sisi’ Gonzalez in the 22nd. After Espanyol had hit the woodwork twice, the forward then took the ball from Espanyol’s Joan Verdu and passed for Kike Sola to dribble past the goalkeeper before rolling the ball home.

Osasuna substitute Manuel Omwu scored off a counterattack in the 77th to cap Espanyol’s first loss in five rounds.

Osasuna have eight points, one less than Espanyol and two points from safety.

Later, Malaga aim to provisionally take control of third place with a win against struggling Real Sociedad, while Deportivo La Coruna are at Real Zaragoza.

League leaders Barcelona visit Mallorca on Sunday before second-placed Atletico Madrid host Getafe. Real Madrid play at Levante, while Valencia visit Valladolid and Sevilla play Athletic Bilbao.

Granada won 2-1 at Real Betis to open the 11th round on Friday.