Liverpool spell made Iago Aspas a meme in England, but exceptional Celta Vigo star is now LaLiga’s most important player

Liverpool spell made Iago Aspas a meme in England, but exceptional Celta Vigo star is now LaLiga’s most important player
For some people outside of Spain, Iago Aspas remains nothing more than a meme, a GIF of a badly taken corner from five years ago.A pity, because as he reaches the twilight of his career, the Galician is one of those few players it is always worth changing the channel to watch.4

Aspas is much, much more than the meme English football fans remember him as

He may just be LaLigas most important player at present; so pivotal, in fact, that he’s almost single-handedly deciding the outcome of the Spanish relegation battle.Aspas is exceptional. Exceptional enough that, despite playing for a team that has been scrapping it out around the drop zone since the turn of the year, and despite missing 11 of 34 rounds of fixtures, he is on course to finish as the top Spanish goalscorer in LaLiga for the third consecutive year.If he does win the Trofeo Zarra once again, he will become only the second player to do so more than twice in their career.The other is David Villa. Not exactly bad company to keep.4

Aspas has scored 16 league goals this season, despite missing 11 games

It is not an exaggeration to say that there are two Celtas these days. The Celta with Iago and the one without.The good Celta… and the awful Celta.When Aspas first got injured back on December 22, his goals and assists had propelled them to 10th in the table. Without him, during Aspas’ absence, Celta went on to win only one of five matches, tumbling all the way down to 18th.When he suffered a further setback things got truly catastrophic, and they couldnt win a single match in five further rounds.

If you are feeling down remember one of the greatest corners from our last title race all HAIL KING ASPAS #LFC #YNWA #LiverpoolFC pic.twitter.com/oYLzcbYBth— Amin Dib (@Aymoss_LFC) April 20, 2019

There was an element of self-fulfilling prophecy to it all without their talisman on the pitch, it felt like Celta had accepted defeat before a ball was kicked.Balaidos seemed to be waiting for the talisman to return, the league season apparently on pause.Except it wasnt as the matches ran down, the chances of escaping the drop did too.No one would envy the pressure on the 31-year-olds shoulders when he finally made his comeback against Villarreal at the end of March, but the evidence of how he reacted to it was conclusive. Celta won for the first time in six matches. Aspas scored his teams first and then the winner late in the game, before coming off to rest, his job done. Aspas breaking down into tears as he took his place on the bench is perhaps the most gripping image of the Spanish season.Special players dont just give sides a momentary lift, they continue to deliver, and Aspas’ return wasnt just a one-off bounce.In their playmakers first three games back, Celta picked up seven points from an available nine.When he missed a trip to Atltico Madrid through suspension, the Galicians lost.Of course.When he returned in a relegation six-pointer against Girona, they won.Of course.And he scored. And provided an assist. As day follows night, when Aspas is playing, Celta perform.When Celta took to the pitch in Barcelona against Espanyol on Wednesday night they did so not in the relegation zone, but aware that with four rounds to go and only a one-point cushion, taking something from the clash was absolutely vital.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• Sheffield United vs Ipswich (Saturday, 5:15pm) talkSPORT 2
• Brighton vs Newcastle (Saturday, 5:30pm) talkSPORT
• Norwich vs Blackburn (Saturday, 7:30pm) talkSPORT 2
• Leeds United vs Aston Villa (Sunday, 12pm) talkSPORT 2
• Coventry vs Shrewsbury (Sunday, 3pm) talkSPORT 2

From the whistle the game plan was clear, the same as it always is now: get the ball to the number 10. A good plan it is too. Recent performances have created a fear around Aspas that is rare for players outside of the top clubs. The first ball that almost fell to him in the box caused a collective gasp from the Espanyol support.Seconds later he was dribbling, surging into the area again and drawing opponents before teeing up a teammate for a shot. A drop of a shoulder, a few step-overs to beat his man in a standing sprint, and he was off once more. Celta looked like they had signed an entire new team, so huge is the impact of one man on their confidence and emotional intelligence.‘Bloody Iago Aspas,’ muttered an Espanyol fan walking past the press area at half-time.4

Aspas has missed 11 matches this season – Celta have lost nine of them

The home team had drawn first blood through Wu Lei, but no one had any doubts over who could turn the game on its head. A guy who doesnt switch off for a second.The second half was a 20-minute rope-a-dope, Espanyol pounding away without success before Celtas own heavyweight sprung his trap. When a ball broke deep in the away half, wily old Aspas was alert. Off he went, driving up the pitch with a hunger more befitting of a youth player than a club legend who has nothing to prove.Attacking midfielder Oscar Melendo had been left to do the marking as Aspas cut in from the wing. The outcome was inevitable. Sucking in his man with his eyes, the 31-year-old opened up just enough space to pick out Maxi Gmez, unmarked, for the equaliser.

The remarkable feats of Iago Aspas

Aspas returned from a calf injury on March 30, and he's scored or assisted at least one goal in each of the five matches he has played since

• Celta 3-2 Villarreal (two goals)
• Huesca 3-3 Celta (one goal, two assists)
• Celta 3-1 Sociedad (two goals)
• Celta 2-1 Girona (one goal, one assist)
• Espanyol 1-1 Celta (one assist)

Maxi grinned from ear to ear, pointing knowingly at his accomplice; the striker had stopped scoring for two months without his companion around, but now hes back, with three in six.When Aspas was finally withdrawn in injury time it was to a resounding chorus of whistles and boos from the RCDE Stadium.It was the most noise the home fans had made all night; a true sign Aspas had really gotten under their skin, ruined their evening just as he did for Girona, Real Sociedad, Huesca and Villarreal.4

Espanyol became Aspas’ latest victim on Wednesday

The attackers personal tally now stands at six goals and five assists in five matches.In the middle of Celtas lowest moment last winter, Aspas rejected an offer to triple his salary and go to China. This month he instead extended his contract with Celta until 2023.Already an icon, perhaps their greatest ever player, there will inevitably be a statue of him outside of Balaidos one day.If Aspas can single-handedly save Celta from the drop this year, they may as well start building it now.

---

Darren Bent has slammed the unnamed club who allegedly asked if Danny Rose was 'crazy' ahead of a proposed transfer last summer. Tottenham star Rose bravely opened up about his battle with depression in the build up to the 2018 World Cup amid injury problems and the death of a close family member.
Tottenham star Danny Rose reveals how Liverpool inspired

---

Manchester United become favourites to sign Jadon Sancho

---

Jason McAteer fumes at Star Sixes after being sent off for kicking former Liverpool Former Liverpool team-mates Michael Owen and Jason McAteer were involved in an The pair clashed during the semi-final of the 2019 Star Sixes when England's Owen took

---

The left-back, who was close to moving on last summer, has cited his age as a potential reason for the north Londoners sanctioning the move. Danny Rose admitted he could be leaving Totten… Tottenham defender Danny Rose admits he may leave as PSG, Manchester United and Chelsea linked Real News Reports-Start Your Day Here
Tottenham defender Danny Rose admits he may leave as PSG

---

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionGoalkeepers Jack Butland, Joe Anyon, Kasper Schmeichel and Joe Hart acted as pallbearers World Cup final teammates of England goalkeeper Gordon Banks have attended his funeral, including hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst whose eulogy described him as a "superstar".
Stoke goalkeeper Butland to honour Gordon Banks by wearing

---

The Premier League have refused to confirm - or deny - that West Ham will be taking part in the Premier League Asia Trophy ahead of the 2019/20 campaign. Football.London understands the Hammers are set to be one of four teams who will take part in the curtain raiser in Shanghai, China this summer alongside fellow top flight sides Manchester
West Ham Pre-Season 2019: Where to Watch the Hammers Play

---

Charlton supporter protests could delay £200m Premier League shootout between Middlesbrough and Brighton 250 miles away. Charlton host Burnley at The Valley with the visitors looking to clinch
Crisp packets thrown onto pitch as Charlton fans continue

---

Arsenal to rival Tottenham for Norwich and England starlet Max Aarons ARSENAL are set to go head-to-head with Tottenham in the battle to sign Norwich starlet Maz Aarons. The teenage defender has emerged as one of the brightest young prospects in the country with his displays for Norwich this season.
Arsenal to rival Tottenham for Norwich City defender Max

---

Manuel Pellegrini welcomes "great asset" Jack Wilshere to West Ham ; Wilshere could be in action for the Hammers for the first time this Saturday when Pellegrini's side play their third pre-season match of the summer, this time against Preston North End at Deepdale.
Jack Wilshere to reveal all on his injury troubles | Daily

---

Paul Pogba is closing in on a return to Juventus, according to reports. The Manchester United midfielder seemed set to join Real Madrid in his 'dream move', but reports are now suggesting a return to Turin could be more likely.
Transfer news live: Man United 'stunning £84m bid' for Serie

---

Crystal Palace 1-3 Man City: Raheem Sterling double sends City back top • Raheem Sterling scores twice as Manchester City return to the top of the Premier League after a dominant display against Crystal Palace.
As it happened: Crystal Palace v Man City, Premier League

---

Aston Villa EXCLUSIVE: Premier League return 'just the beginning' as billionaire owners aim to 'build one of the world's best clubs' "We want to build one of the best clubs in the
Aston Villa EXCLUSIVE: Premier League return 'just the

---

Javi Gracia plans to speak with Heurelho Gomes in a bid to persuade the veteran goalkeeper to put his retirement plans on hold.. Gomes has let in just one goal - in Watford's 2-1 win over Crystal
Why Richarlison could be the key to Heurelho Gomes and a

---

Lucky Liverpool? One big slice of luck every Premier League-winning side has received from Manchester United to Chelsea The Reds' fortunate win over Tottenham prompted cries from opposing fans that Liverpool have had the rub of the green on many occasions this season By Jackson Cole 3rd April 2019, 9:41 am Liverpool only just managed to stay in

---

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a snap decision to cancel today's end-of-season team meeting as he was left seething by the 2-0 loss The Red Devils slumped to defeat by
Wayne Rooney: What Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to do at Man United

---

premier league live stream free app
live football streaming hesgoal
football live streaming hunter
free premier league live streaming
premier league live stream espn
uefa champions league live streaming barcelona vs psg
egypt premier league live streaming
free live premier league football streaming online
premier league free live stream vipbox
premier league darts live stream reddit
premier league live stream iphone
live streaming of pakistan premier league
champions league live stream juventus manchester united
champions league live stream kostenlos heute
watch premier league live streaming
premier league live streaming apk
live bangladesh premier league live streaming
barcelona vs roma champions league live streaming
premier league live streaming india
uganda premier league live streaming
champions league live streaming sony
uefa champions league draw live streaming
football live streaming app for pc
champions league live streaming juventus ajax
football live streaming mobile app
football live streaming free quora
champions league live streaming websites
champions league live streaming video free
champions league live streaming in usa
barclays premier league live streaming sky sports free
bangladesh premier league live streaming online
tamil nadu premier league live streaming
football live streaming malaysia
champions league live streaming bayern
mangalore premier league live streaming
manchester united vs manchester city live streaming premier league
premier league live stream manchester united vs southampton
uefa champions league live video streaming free
premier league live stream neo
manchester united vs barcelona champions league live streaming
premier league live stream china
manchester united vs juventus champions league live streaming
champions league final live streaming video free
live streaming of uefa champions league
abu dhabi premier league live streaming
champions league final live stream usa
live cricket streaming tamil nadu premier league
champions league final live streaming english
football live streaming england
arsenal champions league live streaming free
football live streaming app for android
football live streaming english premier league
calcutta premier league live streaming
champions league final live streaming online
man city vs liverpool champions league live streaming
premier league live stream brighton
atletico madrid vs juventus champions league live streaming
football live streaming crichd
caribbean premier league live streaming 2018
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
premier league games live stream online free
youtube champions league live streaming
telangana premier league live streaming
champions league live streaming juventus vs ajax
champions league live streaming indonesia
champions league live streaming free india
afghanistan cricket premier league live streaming
champions league live streaming tottenham vs ajax
tamil nadu premier league 2018 live match streaming
inter vs tottenham champions league live streaming
premier league live streaming free manchester united
premier league free live streaming hd
champions league live stream juventus vs atletico madrid
champions league live stream vipbox
football live streaming mama
sri lanka premier league 2018 live streaming
football live streaming sky sports
english premier league live streaming usa
darts premier league live streaming
wales premier league live streaming
karnataka premier league live streaming
champions league live streaming app
sbs champions league live streaming
live football streaming justin tv
ireland premier league live streaming
uefa champions league live streaming free online liverpool
football live streaming star sports
madhya premier league live streaming
premier league live streaming totalsportek
juventus vs manchester united champions league live streaming
indo international premier kabaddi league live streaming
champions league live stream juventus vs manchester united
premier league live streaming indonesia
barcelona psg champions league live streaming
jordan premier league live stream
liverpool vs manchester city champions league live streaming
english premier league liverpool vs chelsea live streaming
free uefa champions league live streaming hotstar
live champions league live streaming
barclays premier league live stream reddit
nbc premier league live streaming
liverpool vs bayern champions league live streaming
football live streaming mobile free
malaysia premier league live streaming
premier league live stream bbc
live streaming bein sport 3 premier league hd
sky sports premier league live streaming free
premier league live stream games
champions league live streaming blogspot
champions league free live streaming ipad
premier league live stream japan
premier league live stream deutsch
english premier league live streaming hotstar
champions league draw live streaming free
#futbolmexicano #navas #zinedinezidane #Cristiano #mufc #football #manchester #Ronaldo #Casillas #news #Football #transfers #433 #Ajax #Cr7 #goals #Manchesterunited #liverpool #espndeportes #premierleague #europaleague #juventus #Instagood #messi #manchesterunited #likeforlike #england #amrabat #ronaldo #CristianoRonaldo #degea #footballmemes #manutd #ajax #Bale #Chelsea #Like4Like #beinsportsusa #Rooney #skysports #united #univisiondeportes #foxdeportes #deporte #fifa #oshawa #BayernMunchen #Barcelona #halamadrid #hakimziyech #likeforlikes #meme #likes4likes #Futbol #RealMadrid #nike