In 882 the Banu Qasi ruler Muhammad ibn Lubb al-Qasawi who, like his father Lubb ibn Musa before him, had previously had good relations with the Christian kingdoms to his north, joined in a coalition with the forces of the Cordoban emir Muhammad I of Córdoba.

The emir, as a gesture of good will, sent his son al-Mundhir of Córdoba to join ibn Lubb on raids along the Ebro.

On their arrival at Cellorigo, ibn Lubb and al-Mundhir attempted to take the castle, as it was strategically positioned to protect one of the few passes crossing the Obarenes Mountains.

The attack left both armies with many wounded and the Muslim forces were unable to succeed in taking the castle.

After these retreats, king Alfonso III of Asturias ordered Jiménez and the Castilian count Diego Rodríguez Porcelos to pursue ibn Lubb and al-Mundhir.