Celta Vigo vs Valencia Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
The two sides have endured and enjoyed very different campaigns but that form has swapped around in the final month or so with Celta very much finishing with a flourish.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 26th May, 2024 - UK – 15:15 / US EST – 10:15 / US PST – 08:15
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will be televised live via Viaplay Sports in the UK. / This match will not be televised live in the US.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match will be streamed live via the Viaplay Sports app in the UK. / This match will be streamed live via ESPN+ in the US.
CELTA VIGO PREVIEW: A NARROW ESCAPE
For much of the first-half of this campaign, Celta Vigo spent their time sitting in the bottom half and the relegation places under the management of former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez. Performances were not as bad as results suggested but eventually things had to end and he was replaced by Celta’s B team coach, Claudio Giraldez.
Since the appointment of Giraldez, the Galicians have been much-improved and comfortably pushed themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places. Their 2-1 defeat of already relegated Granada down in Andalusia last weekend means they have won three of their last four matches and suffered just four defeats in 12 matches since the beginning of March.
VALENCIA PREVIEW: FINISHING BADLY
Last season, Valencia narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the campaign with interim coach and former player Ruben Baraja at the helm. His good job earned him the role on a permanent basis but the season began with continued off-field protests about the ownership fuelling an expectation that it would be yet another relegation battle.
However, for much of the campaign Valencia have spent their time in the top-half of La Liga, flirting with a challenge for the top seven and the European spots. That push for UEFA Europa Conference League ended fairly abruptly, though, with their 3-1 loss at home to Girona last weekend meaning they have collected just a point from their last six matches of the season.
CELTA VIGO TEAM NEWS: HUGO SOTELO JOINS INJURY LIST
There are several injury issues for Celta Vigo throughout this campaign with Hugo Sotelo joining the injury list this weekend alongside Franco Cervi and Carles Perez as well as defenders Mihailo Ristic and Joseph Aidoo.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Guaita; Manquillo, Starfelt, Jailson; Alvarez, Tapia, Beltran, De la Torre, Mingueza; Aspas, Strand Larsen
UNAVAILABLE: Sotelo (Injured), Cervi (Injured), Perez (Injured), Ristic (Injured), Aidoo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
VALENCIA TEAM NEWS: GAYA STILL OUT
Valencia’s back-up goalkeeper Jaume Domenech is unavailable for this weekend’s visit to Balaidos in Galicia. Key man and captain Jose Luis Gaya is also out injured as well as Fran Perez, whilst Jesus Vazquez is a doubt, too.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Mosquera, Ozkacar, Gasiorowski; Lopez, Pepelu, Guerra, Canos; Duro, Mari
UNAVAILABLE: Domenech (Injured), Gaya (Injured), Perez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Vazquez (Injured)
CELTA VIGO VS VALENCIA PREDICTION
As mentioned, Celta have suffered just four defeats in their last 12 matches since the beginning of March. What is more impressive is that three of those four losses came against three of this season’s top four in Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Valencia are stumbling through to the end of the season another summer of uncertainty so Celta, given their home advantage and form, are the firm favourites for this one.
CELTA VIGO VS VALENCIA TIP: CELTA TO WIN
