Athletic Bilbao vs Celta Vigo Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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This is a rivalry in the north of Spain this weekend as Athletic Club of the Basque Country take on Celta Vigo of Galicia with both sides playing an entertaining and enterprising style of football that should make for a fun game for the neutral.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 22nd September, 2024 - UK – 3:15pm / US ET – 10:15am / US PT – 7:15am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Athletic Bilbao vs Celta Vigo may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
ATHLETIC BILBAO PREVIEW: BASQUE BRILLIANCE
Last season, Athletic Club won a trophy for the first time in over 40 years as they won the Copa del Rey against Real Mallorca in the final in Seville. They also finished fifth with an entertaining style of football that consists of an exciting attacking quartet but there are some injury issues for this weekend that we will get to.
The Basque club come into this on the back of beginning the season quite slowly but starting to turn it around as they come into this having enjoyed a 2-0 win away at Leganes in their most recent outing at Butarque in midweek a few days after they had enjoyed a thrilling victory over Las Palmas in the Canary Islands last week.
CELTA VIGO PREVIEW: CELTA CHAOS
Celta Vigo come into this one on the back of a positive start to the season in which they have managed three victories with two defeats in their opening five matches. They have been much-improved since the appointment of former B team coach Claudio Giraldez following the sacking of Rafa Benitez as they battled against relegation.
The Galicians returned from the September international break with an impressive 3-1 defeat of Real Valladolid at Balaidos. Hugo Alvarez opened the scoring after 22 minutes before Borja Iglesias doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Raul Moro pulled a goal back just after half-time before Tasos Douvikas sealed the win in second-half stoppage-time.
ATHLETIC BILBAO TEAM NEWS: ISSUES IN THE SPINE
After an impressive UEFA EURO 2024, Nico Williams has endured a slow-ish start to this season and now he is sidelined through injury as Athletic welcome Celta to San Mames.
As well as Nico Williams being unavailable for the hosts, number one goalkeeper Unai Simon is out injured alongside key centre-back Yeray Alvarez.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Julen Agirrezabala; Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche; Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Vesga; Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Alex Berenguer; Gorka Guruzeta
UNAVAILABLE: Unai Simon (Injured), Yeray (Injured), Nico Williams (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CELTA VIGO TEAM NEWS: A FEW CONCERNS
There are a few issues for Celta to deal with but even with that, they haven’t necessarily kept a settled eleven at the start of this season, despite the strong start.
In defence, Celta are missing full-backs Mihailo Ristic and Javi Manquillo due to injury with a couple of other absentees such as Carlos Dominguez and Jailson.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Vicente Guaita; Rodriguez Galiano, Starfelt, Aidoo; Oscar Mingueza, Hugo Sotelo, Fran Beltran, Hugo Alvarez; Iago Aspas, Borja Iglesias, Douvikas
UNAVAILABLE: Ristic (Injured), Javi Manquillo (Injured), Carlos Dominguez (Injured), Jailson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ATHLETIC BILBAO VS CELTA VIGO PREDICTION
Athletic Club will be without Nico Williams but will be able to play an attacking style as Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta return to the starting eleven for this one after being rested in midweek. They now face a Celta side that play their own brand of fun football and are fast becoming one of the most entertaining teams to watch in Spain at the moment. As a result, both teams scoring with over 2.5 goals would seem likely.
ATHLETIC BILBAO VS CELTA VIGO TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE & OVER 2.5 GOALS
