In a thrilling encounter on Monday, Villarreal reclaimed the top spot in La Liga with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo, thanks to Dani Parejo’s decisive penalty rebound deep into stoppage time. The win propelled Villarreal to the summit of the league, displacing Celta Vigo, who had started the third round of the season leading on goal difference.
Celta Vigo, who had enjoyed a perfect start to the season with two wins, took an early lead in the match. Borja Iglesias, making his debut for Celta, capitalized on a loose ball in the 12th minute to score into an unguarded net, giving the visitors a promising start.
Villarreal responded in the 26th minute when Sergi Cardona, completely unmarked at the far post, scored from a corner kick to level the game. However, Celta regained the lead before half-time through Oscar Mingueza, who scored a powerful strike to restore their advantage.
The second half saw Villarreal make a crucial impact with substitute Thierno Barry, who had been on the field for just a minute, heading in a goal to equalize on the hour mark. The match then swung in Villarreal’s favor when Celta defender Jailson inadvertently turned a cross from Nicolas Pepe into his net, giving Villarreal a 3-2 lead.
Celta fought back, and in the 80th minute, Swedish center-back Carl Starfelt headed home to level the score once more. The game seemed set for a draw until the dying moments of stoppage time, when Celta’s Hugo Alvarez fouled Barry inside the box, conceding a penalty.
Goalkeeper Ivan Villar made a crucial save from Parejo’s initial penalty attempt, but the veteran midfielder was quick to react and scored from the rebound. This late goal proved to be the decisive moment, securing a 4-3 victory for Villarreal.
With this win, Villarreal moved to seven points from three games, seizing the top position in La Liga. The dramatic finish underscored the intense competition at the top of the league and marked a significant shift in the early season standings.
