De Paul’s Volley Secures Champions League Spot for Atletico Madrid
Rodrigo De Paul’s stunning volley propelled Atletico Madrid to a crucial 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday, solidifying their position in the Champions League qualification race. With just three games remaining in La Liga, Diego Simeone’s side now holds an eight-point advantage over fifth-place Athletic Bilbao.
Atletico’s dominance throughout the match was evident, but they faced a formidable challenge in Celta’s goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita. The former Crystal Palace shot-stopper made several impressive saves, denying Angel Correa, Rodrigo Riquelme, and Marcos Llorente.
However, De Paul’s moment of brilliance in the 84th minute broke the deadlock. Controlling a clearance on the edge of the box, the Argentine unleashed a powerful volley that soared into the top corner, sending the Metropolitano stadium into raptures.
The victory marked Atletico’s 16th home win in 18 La Liga matches this season. It also represented Diego Simeone’s 400th victory as coach across all competitions. Despite their success in securing Champions League football, Atletico’s season has been marred by disappointment in other competitions. They were eliminated in the Copa del Rey semi-finals by Athletic and fell short against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“We have generated those expectations and they are welcome,” said Simeone. “I know what I want, what I’m looking for, and I am convinced of where the path is. I will continue pushing until the last day I am here.”
Celta Vigo’s defeat leaves them in 17th place, five points above the relegation zone. Rayo Vallecano moved a point ahead of Celta with a 0-0 draw at Valencia, while Granada’s 4-0 home loss to Real Madrid confirmed their relegation to the second tier.
In other La Liga action, Barcelona can overtake second-place Girona with a win against Real Sociedad on Monday. Betis rose to sixth place with a 3-2 victory over Almeria, inspired by the playmaking brilliance of Isco.
