Celta Vigo promoted to La Liga

Celta Vigo secured their return to La Liga after a five-year absence courtesy of a 0-0 draw with Cordoba on Sunday.

The Galicians, who were relegated from the Spanish top flight in 2007, went into the final round of the campaign second in the standings, two points ahead of third-placed Real Valladolid in the battle for the one remaining automatic promotion place following confirmation of Deportivo La Coruna’s title triumph.

With Cordoba only needing to finish sixth, and hence clinch a place in the play-offs, the draw suited both participants and neither side took any great risks during a drab affair at Balaidos.

In the end, Celta could have afforded to lose, as promotion rivals Valladolid slumped to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Guadalajara, who ensured their safety with the surprise success at the Jose Zorrilla.

Celta’s promotion completes a remarkable change in fortunes for the club, who flirted with relegation to Spain’s third tier for a couple of seasons after their demotion from the top flight.

However, they very nearly went up last season but were left heartbroken after being eliminated from the promotion play-offs at the semi-final stage by Granada.