Deadly Du
While Celta Vigo’s improvements may not have
been quite as profound as Leicester’s, their gradual
climb in La Liga has continued this season. Having
finished 8th last season and 9th the season before,
Celta set out with the target of qualifying for
European football and, thanks to their 6th place
finish this season, are in the draw for the Europa
League qualifying rounds.
One of the stars of Celta’s 14/15 season was
Nolito and he’s carried that form on into Celta’s
best campaign of the last decade, but he hasn’t done
it alone. Former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas has
been alongside Nolito in Os Célticos’ front line,
with the two combining to notch up a total of 31
goals and assists between them.
Now a full international for Spain, Nolito has
kept up with some of La Liga’s biggest names,
despite having spent almost two months out with
a hamstring injury. He began his career at Atlético
Sanluqueño, scoring 24 goals in 32 appearances,
eventually leaving the Andalusias outfit for Écija,
where he stayed for two seasons. Following on
from his spell at Écija he signed for Barcelona B,
Nolito
Appearances 29
Goals 12
Assists 7
Fee £1,950,000
s
where he was part of the side that won promotion
to Spain’s second division. In his time at Barcelona
B, he was only called to play for Barcelona on two
occasions, against RCD Mallorca and AD Ceuta.
Having become disillusioned with first team
opportunities in Catalonia Nolito sealed a move
to Benfica, where he stayed for two seasons ahead
of signing for Celta Vigo in 2013, linking up once
again with his former manager at Barcelona B
Luis Enrique. In his 88 appearances with Celta,
Nolito has scored a total of 36 goals, cementing his
position as the club’s key man.
Iago Aspas has also struggled for first team
opportunities at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Unlike Nolito, Aspas is a player made in Galicia,
having come through the youth ranks at Celta
before his big move to Liverpool in 2013. The
forward, uncapped by Spain, made just 14 league
appearances for the Reds and was eventually
shipped out on loan to Sevilla, scoring 10 goals in
25 appearances for Los Rojiblancos. Now back at
Celta, Aspas has 11 goals and 5 assists to his name
this season.
Fact Files
Iago Aspas
Appearances 35
Goals 14
Assists 5
Fee £3,980,000
37