MADRID — Striker Iago Aspas scored in the second half to give Celta Vigo a crucial 1-0 victory over relegation rival Leganes in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Aspas got the winner in the 62nd minute with a clever redirection of a free kick from Lucas Olaza and found the far corner of the goal.
The win lifted Celta out of the relegation spots. The Vigo team is now two points clear of 18th-place Mallorca, which drew 3-3 at Real Betis on Friday.
Leganes stayed second-to-last with the loss, tied on points with last-place Espanyol, which visits Valladolid on Sunday.
Leganes midfielder Ãscar Rodriguez was shown a red card just before Aspas’ goal, but it was waived off after a video review.
The home victory for Celta followed a 2-2 draw against leader Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last weekend. It had beaten fifth-place Sevilla at home before that.
Leganes has won only one of its last seven league games. The modest club from southern Madrid lost its main forward this week, Martin Braithwaite, in a transfer to Barcelona. Leganes was not given permission to replace him outside the transfer window. Barcelona was able to make the signing because of an injury to Ousmane Dembele.
Leganes next hosts Alaves, while Celta visits Granada.
Also Saturday, Real Madrid visits Levante and second-place Barcelona hosts Eibar. The Spanish powerhouses are separated by a point at the top of the standings.
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