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Iago Aspas has been praise for displaying a new level of footballing intelligence after appearing to get himself yellow carded deliberately last night.
The Spain international opened the scoring for Celta Vigo in a 2-1 defeat to Valencia at Estadio de Balaidos but picked up an injury as he poked home his fifth goal of the season.
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While he was mobbed by teammates, Aspas knew straight away that he was injured.
Absolute brilliance from Iago Aspas! 🙌
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) December 5, 2021
Celta's talisman produced a great step over and a brilliant finish, in spite of looking like he might be injured 🔵 pic.twitter.com/5OmyWRF10S
Brais Mendez could be seen in conversation with the former Liverpool man and very quickly, Aspas picked up the most tactical of bookings when he removed his shirt.
He then dropped himself on the turf and was immediately substituted.
Galaxy brain football move 🧠
— International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) December 5, 2021
- Iago Aspas scores for Celta Vigo
- Gets injured while celebrating
- Knows he’s on a fourth yellow card
- Takes off his shirt on the pitch, receives his fifth yellow (automatic one game ban)
- Cleans his card count so he’s back to 0 when he returns pic.twitter.com/b5tODsk20u
Celta 1-2 Valencia
— Lilian Chan (@bestgug) December 5, 2021
Celta Vigo doing their best to cancel out their own lead with some shocking defending!
Superb step over and finish from Iago Aspas!
But that's it, he's done. Took his shirt off straight away knowing he was injured and had to go off pic.twitter.com/lvswQK3ZGF
Iago Aspas scores a golazo vs. Valencia and injures himself in doing so, realizes he's a yellow away from a suspension, and takes off his shirt in order to get booked and miss Friday's match vs. Mallorca while he recovers.
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 5, 2021
Not even Einstein reached these levels of intelligence. pic.twitter.com/SXEKD3BdWt
But given he was on four yellow cards and one away from suspension, many believe it was genius thinking from Aspas.
He recognised he was likely going to miss Celta's next game anyway and so his yellow cards tally will refresh after the Mallorca clash.
Aspas is Celta's all-time record goalscorer, with 171 goals in 393 appearances.
Even at 34, Aspas is massively important to Celta and the club will be hoping it is only just the one game he is sidelined for.
Last month, Real Madrid looked to be flirting with the idea of a deliberate caution when they beat Sheriff 3-0 away from home.
Casemiro : "should I get a yellow card so that I miss the match against Inter and go to R-16 clean?"
— Rk (@RkFutbol) November 25, 2021
Ancelotti :"No"
😂😂😂😂😂
pic.twitter.com/z53YC1ba3h
During celebrations for the third goal, Casemiro looked to have asked manager Carlo Ancelotti whether he should pick up a yellow that would see his record cleaned for the knockout stages.
Ancelotti said "No", however and Casemiro ended up being subbed for Antonio Blanco.
Featured Image Credit: Image: Premier League
Topics: Celta Vigo, La Liga