La Liga round-up: Iago Aspas on target as Celta Vigo beat Sociedad

Iago Aspas scored a brilliant chip to give Celta Vigo a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad to boost the Galicians hopes of qualifying for the Europa League.

The former Liverpool striker controlled a pass from Nolito with his left foot in the area and then lofted the ball over the reach of Geronimo Rulli with the same foot to put the hosts in charge after 16 minutes.

The 28-year-old also scored a chip last week at the Bernabeu, the one positive of a forgettable afternoon for Celta as they were thrashed 6-1 by Real Madrid.

Sociedad coach Eusebio Sacristan raised eyebrows by naming Carlos Vela in the squad, despite the Mexican being excluded from training in midweek for missing an earlier session to go to a concert.

Vela made an appearance in the second half and nearly grabbed an equaliser, hitting the side-netting to leave Sociedad 10 points behind Celta in the table.

Gonzalo Escalante's equaliser secured Eibar a point from a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano and halted his side's four-game losing run.

Escalante headed Eibar level before the break after fellow defender Ze Castro's header had given Rayo an early lead.

Eibar had lost seven of their previous eight league games heading into the match and the omens did not look good as Rayo made an excellent start, opening the scoring in the seventh minute when Portuguese Ze Castro headed home Roberto Trashorras's corner.

Having headed just over midway through the first half, Escalante hauled his side level in the 36th minute with another header following David Junca's cross.