Gennaro Gattuso’s men had claimed all of their points this season on home soil, and while Los Che were dominating the ball, they were suspect in playing out from the back and suffered a couple of scares. Hugo Guillamón was forced to trip Iago Aspas on the edge of the area after conceding possession, and the Celta forward’s subsequent free-kick needed saving by Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The hosts were inches away from taking the lead from a set-piece of their own, though. Celta failed to clear the ball and it fell to Mouctar Diakhaby from just a few yards out. The defender, who was sprawled on the floor, managed to swing a leg at it and saw his effort smash the post. Eventually though, Valencia did take the lead. Samuel Lino’s electric pace earned him space on the left and he cut inside to shoot, drawing a good save from Agustín Federico Marchesín. Unfortunately for the shot-stopper, Castillejo was the man to meet the ball next, firing home his second goal of the season.
Valencia’s superiority continued after the break and were left feeling aggrieved when Lino appeared to be tripped inside the area by Joseph Aidoo, but his appeals were waved away, with the winger even booked for simulation. Frustration was building among Eduardo Coudet’s men and that reached boiling point on the hour mark. Franco Cervi, desperate to retrieve the ball, dived in on Thierry Correia, but the Argentinian's challenge was high and with studs showing, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off.
The Sky Blues needed to regroup in search of an equaliser, and the only thing standing in their way was Mamardashvili, who produced a fine reaction save to stop Jørgen Strand Larsen’s header. However, with their numerical advantage, Valencia pushed on looking for a second. José Gayà and Justin Kluivert both had shots saved, before substitute Marcos André buried his effort, and André Almeida netted a late third - his first goal in over a year to put the victory beyond all doubt with an emphatic finish.