Celta Vigo vs Alaves Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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After the failed appointment of Rafa Benitez last season, former B team coach Claudio Giraldez steered Celta away from the bottom three and he is tasked with re-establishing the Galicians in mid-table as they kick off against an Alaves side that enjoyed an impressive return to La Liga last season, following their promotion in 2023.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 16th August, 2024 - UK – 6:00pm / US ET – 1:00pm / US PT – 10:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Celta Vigo vs Alaves may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
CELTA VIGO PREVIEW: AVOIDING ANOTHER RELEGATION BATTLE
Last summer set up what was a miserable campaign for the Galicians. The sale of starlet Gabri Veiga to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli quite late in the transfer window gave Celta and Rafa Benitez an uphill battle and it was one they struggled against but it has been a lot more stable this time around.
They have only brought in one player, Unai Nunez from Athletic Club, on a permanent basis but they have also made some intriguing loan signings. Borja Iglesias, for example, fresh off winning the Bundesliga title, joins from Real Betis, whilst former Barcelona man Ilaix Moriba has signed on a temporary basis from RB Leipzig.
ALAVES PREVIEW: FINDING GOALS
Following their promotion back to the top-flight last summer, Deportivo Alaves find themselves tucked firmly into the middle-of-the-table and they even managed to achieve an unlikely top-half finish under the management of once under fire Luis Garcia Plaza, who also remains in charge at the start of the 2024/25 season.
They have lost a couple of key loanees over the summer transfer window, most notably their Spain Olympic forward Samu Omorodion, who has returned to parent club Atletico Madrid. However, key arrivals such as Luka Romero and Manu Sanchez on loan, as well as Moussa Diarra, Stoichkov and Hugo Novoa will give them confidence of another strong season.
CELTA VIGO TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT CELTA SQUAD
Claudio Giraldez is blessed with a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s clash with Alaves as they seek to stumble upon a similar winning formula as to the second-half of last season.
There are a couple of general issues to iron out and that would be how to go about getting someone like Ilaix Moriba into the same eleven alongside Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Ivan Villar; Oscar Mingueza, Starfelt, Unai Nunez, Aidoo; Bamba, De La Torre, Fran Beltran, Cervi; Aspas, Douvikas
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
ALAVES TEAM NEWS: NEW SIGNING OUT
As mentioned, Deportivo Alaves have made some intriguing additions this summer but one of those mentioned, Hugo Novoa, is actually set to miss the start of this season with an injury.
The Basque club will be able to select pretty much the strongest eleven that they played last season with a preference of Luis Garcia Plaza being a flat back five and then a four across the middle.
PREDICTED XI (5-4-1): Antonio Sivera; Tenaglia, Maras, Abqar, Sedlar, Manu Sanchez; Carlos Vicente Ander Guevara, Antonio Blanco, Luis Rioja; Kike
UNAVAILABLE: Hugo Novoa (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CELTA VIGO VS ALAVES PREDICTION
This is a game between two sides that have embodied and been quite representative of what Spanish football has been about in the last few years with determined and dogged defences. However, Celta did begin to play some more coherent football in the final third last season following the appointment of Claudio Giraldez, whilst Alaves also grew into the season from an attacking perspective last year. We could well have a surprisingly entertaining game for the neutral here in which both teams scoring may actually be a good bet.
CELTA VIGO VS ALAVES TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
