Celta Vigo welcomed Real Mallorca on Sunday with both sides struggling for form in the early stages of the season.
Mallorca looked on course for their first league win in five matches when Tomer Hemed handed them the lead early on.
However, the home side were level just before the hour mark when Arsenal's on-loan striker Chu-young Park converted from close range.
Both sides pushed for the winner in the latter stages, but to no avail as the points were shared.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Afternoon all! It is maybe too early in the season to call this a relegation six-pointer, but neither side will want to lose this match at such a crucial point of the season. A victory for any of the bottom three sides is just massive at this stage.
Teams:
Celta Vigo: Varas; Bellvis, Tunez, Mallo, Oubina; Fernandez, Vila, Lopez, Park; Krohn-Dehli, Aspas
Mallorca: Aouate; Geromel, Conceicao, Fontas, Ximo; Bigas, Pina, Pereira, Victor; Nsue, Hemed
Celta lost their opening two matches of the league season before beating Osasuna at home, but they have struggled for form since then. Victories did come against Getafe and Sevilla, but they have not won in the league since the beginning of October.
Meanwhile, Mallorca started the season in confident fashion and did not suffer defeat in the league until losing to Getafe at the beginning of October. However, it has been a bit of a horror show since then.
They have lost seven of their last eight matches in all competitions and with a host of difficult matches to come, you just get the sense that they have to start picking up victories or risk being pulled into a relegation battle.
They were defeated 4-2 at home by Barcelona in their last clash and also recently suffered a 5-0 loss at home to Real Madrid. Strangely, they have fared better on the road where the pressure is seemingly off.
We have just about 10 minutes until kickoff on this mild afternoon in Spain. I think that Mallorca can sneak a result today. I am backing a 1-1 draw. Be sure to stay with us for the action.
Just a reminder that we will also be covering the action from Madrid and Sevilla this evening. In addition to Real Sociedad vs. Rayo Vallecano on Monday evening.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. There are a lot of nervous faces in the crowd this afternoon. It is one of those matches.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Let's get the second La Liga match of Sunday underway.
Here we go then. Mallorca get the action underway and immediately knock the ball long towards Tomer Hemed. However, the danger is cleared.
Decent early pressure from the away side as they force a corner on the right. However, Oubina is on hand to clear the danger. Meanwhile, Bigas heads over the crossbar from close range.
Anderson Conceicao appears to have a bit of a problem here as he collides with the home side's goalkeeper. The defender is holding his shoulder and looks in some discomfort. Celta have not really offered an attacking threat thus far.
Half-chance for the home side as Alex Lopez finds the head of Aspas inside the penalty area, but the striker can only glance over the crossbar. It would have been asking a lot to beat Dudu Aouate from that angle.
Suddenly the match has burst into life with both sides exchanging attacks. Meanwhile, the amount of tackles that are flying in suggest that the referee may have to get his notebook out sooner rather than later.
Javi Varas has a bit of a problem for the home side here as he collides with Victor. However, the goalkeeper is alright to continue and Aspas comes close with an effort down the other end. The chances are starting to come for both sides.
Another half-chance comes the way of Celta as Hugo Mallo advances into the penalty area, but he can only fire his effort over the crossbar. You just get the feeling that there are going to be goals in this match.
The home side are dominating the possession at the moment as they pass and probe in the Mallorca half. However, the away side are still threatening with their pace on the counter. It is so delicately poised.
Aspas remains the biggest threat for Celta as he collects possession before driving into the Mallorca penalty area, but Bigas is on hand to make the challenge. End-to-end stuff after 17 minutes at the Estadio de Balaidos.
Mallorca continue to threaten as they force a corner on the left, but Michael Pereira fails to beat the front man once more. There are no signs that either of these sides are prepared to settle for a draw.
The end-to-end flow continues as Hemed heads over the crossbar for Mallorca before Aspas fires wide down the other end. The tempo remains really high as we approach the mid-way point of the opening half.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 0-1 Real Mallorca (Hemed)
Mallorca take the lead as Hemed takes advantage of pinball inside the Celta box to stroke into the corner of the net. First blood to the away side.
Celta attempt to respond immediately as Aspas feeds Park, but the on-loan Arsenal striker can only fire horribly over the crossbar. The scoring is not finished in this match.
Celta really need to get Michael Krohn-Dehli involved in the match. The game seems to be passing him by at the moment with Aspas the biggest threat. However, that can change in an instant.
It's ambitious from Tomas Pina as he strikes a long-range effort for the away side, but it was always moving high of the crossbar. Meanwhile, both sides continue to exchange spells of possession.
Half-chance for the home side as Aspas fires an effort from inside the box, but it is deflected behind by Bigas and the corner is collected by Aouate.
Celta are very much in control in terms of possession as we surpass the 30-minute mark. But you just get the sense that they have to score while on top. The next goal could ultimately decide this match.
Celta are just overplaying at the moment as they pass and probe around the Mallorca box. It is nice to watch, but the away side are defending so deep and there is simply no room in behind.
It must be said that the atmosphere is not the greatest inside the stadium. Normally the home side would feed off the crowd, but they are going to have to lift themselves.
CHANCE! Oh my word. It simply had to be 1-1 as Aspas found Park inside the penalty area, but the striker could only fire over the crossbar from close range. That was the chance.
Still the home side force the issue in the latter stages of the half, but Mallorca are so well drilled in defence and continue to quell the danger. Little under five minutes of the half remaining.
No real chances to report in the past few minutes. Celta continue to pass and play their football, but it has not worked thus far as we approach the break.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute of added time. Meanwhile, the last chance of the half is headed over by Aspas.
Celta Vigo 0-1 Real Mallorca
So there we have it. A singular strike from Tomer Hemed is enough to hand Mallorca a 1-0 lead over Celta Vigo at the interval. It has been a match of few chances.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Celta have dominated possession with 69%, but they have managed just four shots to Mallorca's eight.
Mallorca's four shots have also all been on target and they have looked the more dangerous in advanced positions. They will sit and defend the lead and it is up to the home side to come out and play.
As it stands Mallorca would move into 12th spot in the table, while Celta would remain just above the bottom three in 17th. There is much on offer in second 45 minutes of this match.
Just a reminder that we still have two La Liga commentaries to bring you today from Madrid and Sevilla. But first we have the small matter of the second period of this one.
Here we go then. Celta get us underway in the second period. There are such a crucial three points on offer with neither side in a good run of form.
All-action start to the second half as a host of challenges fly on from both sides. You cannot question the commitment of either team this afternoon.
Half-chance for Celta in the early stages as Krohn-Dehli collects possession inside the box, but his effort is over the crossbar. The home side really need to take those opportunities.
Mallorca have not been in this match as an attacking threat since the interval. It is clear that their game plan is to defend and it is working. For now anyway. Seven minutes of the second half gone.
Half-chance for the away side as Hemed whips a dangerous cross into the penalty area, but Bigas cannot make contact and the danger is cleared. Meanwhile, Aspas remains the biggest threat for Celta.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 1-1 Real Mallorca (Park)
Celta level the match as Park smashes home from close range. The Arsenal striker has hardly had a kick in this game, until now.
In many ways Mallorca had been asking for that. They continued to drop deeper and deeper and eventually have paid the biggest price. It is so delicately poised with little over 30 minutes to play.
CHANCE! Oh my word. Mallorca come so close to taking the lead as Hemed meets a corner from Pereira, but his header rattles off the crossbar.
The goal has suddenly woken Mallorca and they now look the side more likely to move back into the lead. However, Celta are now playing on the counter and causing problems of their own.
Change for the home side as De Lucas replaces Augusto Fernandez. Meanwhile, Hemed and Victor continue to drive Mallorca into advanced positions.
The tempo of this match really has not faded since the opening whistle. Both teams continue to pass and probe, but neither can conjure up any real clear chances.
The match continues to remain in a pattern of both sides moving into advanced positions, but their attacks breaking down at the vital moment. It is going to take something special to win this one.
Aspas's attempt on goal was indeed special. But for the wrong reasons. I think he has cleared the stand with that effort from outside the box. That says everything you need to know about it.
Two changes for the away side as Pereira and Fontas are replaced by Arizmendi and Marti. Meanwhile, Celta remove Aspas in place of Mario Bermejo.
Right. We have 15 minutes of football remaining and the scores are still level at 1-1. I backed that particular score before kickoff. Could I be right for once?
Half-chance for Mallorca as Nsue meets a pass from Hemed before striking towards goal, but Varas makes a fine save. The away side are now the side on the attack.
The home supporters have found their voice in the last five or so minutes. But their side continue to struggle to create any real opportunities. It is difficult to see a winner coming from either side.
Not a great deal happening at the moment truth be told. It must be said that clear chances have been few and far between in this match. It has been as expected.
It appears that both sides have settled for a share of the spoils. Celta enjoy a passing period before handing it to Mallorca, who do the same. Little over seven minutes of normal time remaining.
Final change for the home side as Krohn-Dehli is replaced by Joan Tomas. Can he inspire his side in the remaining moments?
Mallorca also make their final change of the afternoon as Hemed is replaced by Kevin Garcia. I would be very surprised if we had a winner in the final stages of this one.
Decent pressure from the home side in the past few minutes, but still Mallorca defend in numbers. Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes of added time.
Half-chance for the home side to take all three points as Lopez fires a low cross towards Park, but the striker just cannot make contact. Little over one minute of added time remaining. If there is going to be a winner it must come now.
Celta Vigo 1-1 Real Mallorca
So there we have it. The points are shared in a tight encounter this afternoon. That just about does it for me but join us again at 6.15pm for action from Granada versus Atletico Madrid. Until then!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
