Hugo González nets hat‑trick as Celta defeats Sassuolo 4‑1 in pre‑season friendly

Spanish forward Hugo González scored three goals in four minutes to complete a 4‑1 victory for RC Celta de Vigo over Italian side Sassuolo in a pre‑season match at Stadio Ricci. The hat‑trick came after Iago Aspas had opened the scoring, and the Italian team was reduced to ten men following an Armand Laurienté dismissal. González, 23, has now tallied six goals in four preparation games, having previously scored against Sporting de Braga, Sporting de Gijón and Académico de Viseu. The performance reinforces his role in Celta’s attack under coach Fernando Giráldez, with the club holding his contract until June 2028 after signing him permanently in July 2025.

His rapid rise follows a youth career at Valencia CF, a loan spell at Cartagena and a loan move to Celta in February 2025. The striker’s versatility and intensity have been highlighted as fitting the team’s high‑pressing style, prompting discussion about his future role in the squad for the upcoming LaLiga Hypermotion season.