MADRID, Aug 19: Sixteen-year-old Fabrice Olinga made history on Saturday when he became the youngest ever player to score in La Liga, grabbing the only goal as Malaga clinched a 1-0 victory at promoted Celta Vigo.

The Cameroon-born forward came on as a 58th-minute substitute to make his league debut and got the 84th-minute winner as the new season got under way.

At only 16 years and 98 days, Olinga is 191 days younger than current Athletic Bilbao player Iker Muniain who had held the previous record for youngest scorer.

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini denied that the teenager’s debut was a message to the club’s owners who have been criticised for selling some of their best players over the summer.

“The debut was no intentional message, young players like him and Portillo and Juanmi have to get experience and in no way does it prove we are lacking resources in the squad,” said Pellegrini.

Celta, back in La Liga after five seasons away, were the better side for much of the game with ex-Chelsea player Quique de Lucas looking particularly dangerous.

The veteran de Lucas had the best chance of the first half hooking a Roberto Lagos cross just over the crossbar.After the interval he went close on three occasions in quick succession.

Willy Caballero, excellent all evening in goal for Malaga, blocked two shots in two minutes before the striker unluckily struck the left hand post after being played through by the industrious Iago Aspas.

Malaga played at half pace all evening, with one eye perhaps on the club’s first-ever Champions League match at home to Panathinaikos on Wednesday that will be key to qualification to the group stages of the competition.

Francisco Alarcon ‘Isco’ was their best player and he saw a thunderous drive hit the crossbar on 77 minutes before the teenage Olinga should have finished the rebound from close range, clumsily hitting his shot wide.

That setback did not deter him however and with seven minutes remaining he broke through the home defence and hit a shot onto the post.

Malaga retained possession and the ball broke to another substitute Diego Buonanotte who twisted and turned on the left side of the area before producing a cross that Olinga turned home with his knee to make La Liga history.

Federico Fazio and Alvaro Negredo grabbed first-half goals for Sevilla in a 2-1 home win over Getafe.

Ex-Sevilla defender Alexis Ruano pulled one back for the club from the outskirts of Madrid but the hosts were stronger and deserved the points on a baking hot night in the southern city.

Results: Celta Vigo 0    Malaga 1 Sevilla 2    Getafe 1 Real Mallorca 2    Espanyol 1—AFP