Real Sociedad and Celta cancel each other out in forgettable stalemate
Real Sociedad were left frustrated on Thursday night after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Celta Vigo, missing the chance to put together back-to-back LaLiga wins for the first time since January.
The home side had looked the likely winners for most of the first half but poor finishing and another strong night from Celta goalkeeper Andrei Radu kept them from turning control into anything more.
Match highlight
Sociedad came in with the home record and played with more confidence early on dominating possession and pinning Celta back for long stretches. Around the 15-minute mark Jon Martin went close with a downward header only for Radu to keep it out.
Mikel Oyarzabal then tested the goalkeeper with a fierce left-footed effort that was kept out instinctively and the rebound fell kindly for Takefusa Kubo, who somehow blasted over from close range with the goal wide open.
The pressure kept building. Yangel Herrera forced another save from Radu with a left-footed strike and Benat Turrientes later tried his luck from 25 metres but that effort was too close to the keeper.
After the break the game flattened out. Sociedad lost some of the rhythm and dominance they had built in the half and Celta began to carry a little more threat on the counter. Their best opening before the hour fell to Andres Antanon, who shot wide after a break.
Needless fouls started creeping and Celta defenders Yoel Lago and former Chelsea man Marcos Alonso both went into the book as the visitors tried to break up the flow.
Sociedads frustration then boiled over when they felt they should have had a penalty with than 15 minutes left.
Goncalo Guedes appeared to be pulled down after winning the ball from Alvaro Nunez inside the area. Referee Victor Garcia Verdura waved away the appeals and left the home crowd furious.
Immediately Sociedad were nearly punished. Veteran forward Iago Aspas had Celtas moment of the night in the 78th minute but Alex Remiro produced an excellent save to stop what would have been a very late smash-and-grab winner.
In the end though neither side did enough to really claim the points. It was the goalless draw between these teams since November 2008 and it will not be remembered as a classic. Sociedad travel to Elche on Monday night while Celta are also on the road again, against Getafe.
