In a dramatic encounter at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Monday, Villarreal emerged victorious over Celta Vigo with a scoreline of 4-3, propelling them to the top of La Liga. The match, which was marked by intense back-and-forth action, saw Dani Parejo score the decisive goal from a penalty rebound in the 10th minute of added time.

Celta Vigo, who entered the match holding the top position on goal difference after winning their first two games, initially took the lead in just the 12th minute. New signing Borja Iglesias capitalized on a defensive lapse, slotting the ball into an empty net. However, Villarreal quickly responded, with Sergi Cardona equalizing from a corner kick in the 26th minute.

As the game progressed, Celta regained the lead before halftime through Oscar Mingueza, who found the net with a well-placed finish. Despite the early setback, Villarreal kept their composure and equalized in the second half thanks to a header from substitute Thierno Barry shortly after his introduction.

The match continued to unfold dramatically, with Celta’s Jailson inadvertently turning a cross from Nicolas Pepe into his own net, giving Villarreal a brief 3-2 advantage. The resilient Celta side fought back again, with Swedish defender Carl Starfelt heading home to level the score at 3-3 in the 80th minute.

As the match appeared to be heading for a draw, Villarreal was awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time after Celta’s Hugo Alvarez fouled Thierno Barry. Despite Ivan Villar’s initial save on Parejo’s penalty, the Villarreal midfielder was quick to react, scoring from the rebound and securing the win for his team.

With this thrilling victory, Villarreal now sits at the top of the La Liga table with seven points, overtaking Celta Vigo. The exhilarating match showcased the competitive nature of the league and underlined Villarreal’s capability to perform under pressure as they look to build on this strong start to the season.