Madrid has become a generous hunting ground for Celta de Vigo, much like Andalusia was during Luis Enrique’s tenure in Vigo. This season, Claudio Giráldez’s side went unbeaten on their trips to the capital, securing their first-ever victory at the Metropolitano, silencing the Bernabéu earlier in the campaign, and adding draws in Vallecas and Getafe. Almost a perfect record in a region that had previously been hostile to the Galician club, which has now set a new points record away from home. Never before had Celta accumulated 30 points as a visitor in La Liga. The previous record (27 points) was set by Eduardo Berizzo’s team in the 2015-16 season, which ended with European qualification. Back then, as now, the Celestes celebrated eight victories away from Balaídos, another historic mark previously achieved under Luis Enrique in the 2013-14 campaign.
Radu celebrated his ninth clean sheet of the season in the top flight on Saturday, after a brilliant save from a close-range backheel by Sorloth, just as the Metropolitano was preparing to celebrate a goal from the Norwegian striker. The Romanian goalkeeper has had a stellar campaign away from Balaídos, conceding only 19 goals in 18 matches, an average of just over one per game.
Celta’s success on the road this season has been built on Radu’s fine form and a diligent defensive effort. Giráldez’s team has written the brightest chapter in the club’s history with those 30 away points. Only Barcelona and Real Madrid have better away records than Celta, with 37 and 34 points respectively (excluding the weekend’s Clásico at Camp Nou).
The Celestes’ excellent away run took time to get going, as they went nine matchdays without a win. On the tenth, they surprised at the always-tough El Sadar (2-3). From then on, Celta got used to getting better results away than at home, where they have only 20 points so far—10 fewer than on the road. As a visitor, they have Champions League-level form; as a host, they sit in the relegation zone, specifically second from bottom.
On matchday 11, Celta also won at Levante, while their first home victory didn’t come until matchday 16 (against Athletic Club), after already winning at Alavés and Real Madrid. In fact, the Celestes have only lost four away games, a figure bettered only by Real Madrid (three losses, excluding their trip to Camp Nou this weekend). Sevilla, Girona, and Valencia were the next venues where Giráldez’s side collected three points in one go. The eighth away win came on Saturday at the Metropolitano, a stadium that had been a fortress against Celta since it replaced the Vicente Calderón as Atlético Madrid’s home. An extraordinary goal from Borja Iglesias, following a great assist from Williot, broke a winless streak at the home of Atlético that dated back to 2007, when Fernando Vázquez led the Vigo side.
That goal from the Santiago de Compostela-born striker gave Celta their 50th point of the season, cementing sixth place, which would grant them a return to the Europa League next season. Of that total, 30 points come from their exploits away from Balaídos, making Giráldez’s team the most productive on the road in the club’s history.
