Sporting de Gijon 0 - 1 Celta Vigo: Celta Vigo tighten their grip on fifth with win at Sporting Gijon

Posted Sunday, April 10, 2016 by PA

Sporting Gijon are still fighting for their lives after losing 1-0 at home to Europa League qualification contenders Celta Vigo.

Celta's talisman Nolito scored the only goal of the game after 64 minutes to give the Galicians a deserved win which takes them onto 52 points and tightens their grip on fifth place.

Sporting still occupy 18th, the final relegation place in the Primera Division table, and are two points from safety with six games remaining.

The Asturians could only draw with fellow strugglers Levante last week and were always on the back foot against a Celta side intent on qualifying for Europe for the first time since 2003.

Nolito nearly opened the scoring in the 12th minute after playing a one-two with John Guidetti, but narrowly missed the target. The visitors kept peppering their opponents' goal until half-time, with Nolito and Iago Aspas spurning two chances each, although Sporting's top scorer Antonio Sanabria missed a free header just before the break.

The Paraguayan was Sporting's biggest threat and narrowly failed to connect with a cross at the far post early in the second half.

Celta made their superiority count though a few minutes later. Nolito, who had scored the equaliser in last week's Galician derby with Deportivo, received the ball down the left wing from Fabian Orellana and cut inside onto his right foot, beat a defender and tucked the ball in at the near post - his 11th goal of the season.