Athletic Bilbao vs Celta Vigo
BILBAO (Interstat) — Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo played to a 1-1 draw Sunday at San Mamés in the season opener for both La Liga clubs.
The result left each team with a record of zero wins, zero losses and one draw in the competition and across all competitions.
Celta Vigo struck first in the fourth minute. Substitute Williot Swedberg collected an assist from Ionuț Radu and scored to put the visitors ahead. It was the first goal of the season for Swedberg, a midfielder entering his fourth year with the club.
Athletic Bilbao answered in the 52nd minute. Forward Iñaki Williams found the net off an assist from Aymeric Laporte, leveling the match. Williams, a veteran striker and longtime leader for Bilbao, recorded his first goal of the campaign.
The hosts nearly pulled ahead late but could not convert further chances. Both sides settled for a point.
The match featured four yellow cards. Javier Rueda Garcia of Celta Vigo was booked in the 10th minute. Yuri Berchiche of Athletic Bilbao received a yellow in the 38th minute. Radu was cautioned in the 42nd minute. Laporte drew a yellow in the 68th minute.
Key performances in descending order of importance included Williams with one goal, Swedberg with one goal, Rueda Garcia with one assist, Laporte with one assist, Berchiche with one assist and Radu with one assist.
Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Athletic Bilbao 1, Celta Vigo 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Celta Vigo with a 75.80 percent probability to win.