Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke were introduced from the bench but Sevilla could not find a way past Celta Vigo, losing 1-0 at Estadio de Balaidos on the final day of the La Liga season to confirm their relegation to the second division.
It was a bitter end to a difficult campaign for the Andalusian club, as Ilaix Moriba’s second-half strike on 51 minutes proved enough for Celta Vigo to secure their own Europa League spot at Sevilla’s expense, as reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng. The result confirmed what had been looking inevitable for weeks Sevilla’s return to the second tier for the first time in their modern history.
Adams was introduced in the 64th minute, replacing Isaac Romero as Sevilla pushed for an equaliser. Ejuke followed in the 77th minute, coming on for Oso. Despite their best efforts to unlock a well organised Celta backline in the closing stages, the visitors never truly threatened to overturn the deficit.
Moriba Strike the Difference at Balaidos
The match was largely tight and disciplined from both sides, with Celta knowing a win would seal European football and Sevilla knowing only a victory could keep their survival hopes alive. Moriba, the Guinea international who had been one of Celta’s standout performers all season, settled the contest with a low drive from the edge of the area early in the second half.
Celta went close to doubling their lead shortly after when Moriba’s volley narrowly missed the target, but the home side ultimately sat back and protected what they had. Sevilla enjoyed more of the ball in the final quarter but lacked the cutting edge to threaten seriously. The final whistle confirmed the worst for a club that has been one of European football’s most decorated sides over the last two decades.
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Adams Ends the Season as Sevilla’s Top Scorer Despite Relegation
Akor Adams can reflect on a personally productive debut campaign in Spanish top flight football, even if the team’s fate is deeply disappointing. The 26-year-old Benue-born striker finished the 2025-26 La Liga season with 10 goals in 30 appearances, making him Sevilla’s leading scorer and one of the more impressive individual storylines in a troubled club season. His form also placed him among the more efficient strikers in the division, ranking in the top percentile for non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes.
Adams joined Sevilla from Montpellier in January 2025 on a four and a half-year contract, and his immediate impact helped keep the club afloat for much of the campaign. His first goal for the club came in a 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano back in September 2025. A striker of his quality will attract serious interest this summer, and his future at a relegated Sevilla remains uncertain.
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Ejuke’s Bit-Part Season Sets Up Summer Decision
Chidera Ejuke’s 2025-26 campaign was a quieter affair. The left winger, who joined Sevilla from CSKA Moscow in 2024, made 27 appearances across the season, contributing one goal and one assist from a predominantly substitute role. He rarely held down a starting berth and will face questions about his future now that the club is heading into the second tier.
Both Nigerian internationals will be weighing their options carefully in the coming weeks, with Sevilla’s relegation almost certainly triggering a major squad overhaul. The club finished the 2025-26 season in 18th place with 43 points from 38 games, ending a 25 season run in La Liga’s top flight.
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Celta Seal Europa League Spot with Clinical Win
For Celta Vigo the result was cause for celebration, clinching a second consecutive Europa League campaign for a side that has quietly become one of the more consistent mid-table outfits in Spain. The win was also likely the final La Liga contribution of Moriba, with reports suggesting the Guinea international is set to be sold in the summer to help balance the club’s finances.
The match at Estadio de Balaidos drew an attendance of 20,901, with the home faithful there to celebrate what turned out to be a very satisfying final day despite the muted farewell of Iago Aspas, who was substituted and received a standing ovation from the crowd in what may have been his last appearance at the ground.
📌 Did You Know?
- Sevilla’s relegation to the second division ends a run of 25 consecutive seasons in La Liga, the longest unbroken top flight stay in the club’s modern era. They had won six UEFA Europa League titles during that same period.
- Akor Adams was born in Benue State, Nigeria, and began his professional career at Sogndal in Norway before moving to Lillestrom, where he scored 28 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions.
- Chidera Ejuke joined Sevilla in 2024 from CSKA Moscow, where he had been one of the most exciting wide players in the Russian Premier League, known for his pace and direct dribbling on the left flank.
- Ilaix Moriba, the match-winner for Celta Vigo, is a Guinea international who was born in Guinea and raised in Spain, having come through the Barcelona youth academy before moving to Celta. He is expected to be sold in the summer transfer window.
- Celta Vigo’s Estadio de Balaidos, where Saturday’s match was played, is located in Vigo, Galicia, in northwest Spain, and has a capacity of just over 29,000 spectators.
- Adams signed a four and a half year contract with Sevilla when he joined in January 2025, meaning his deal runs until June 2029 a clause that will complicate any potential departure and may attract significant transfer fee offers.
- Sevilla’s 2025-26 La Liga season saw them go through two head coaches, with Matias Almeyda replaced by Luis Garcia in March 2026, as the club struggled to find stability amid a difficult campaign that ultimately ended in the drop.
